Promoting Paternity Leave Take Up

Last registered on October 23, 2023
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Promoting Paternity Leave Take Up
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0012315
Initial registration date
October 18, 2023

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
October 23, 2023, 9:21 AM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Shintaro Yamaguchi
Affiliation
University of Tokyo
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Mari Tanaka
PI Affiliation
Hitotsubashi University
PI Name
Hiroko Okudaira
PI Affiliation
Doshisha University
PI Name
Mariko Sakka
PI Affiliation
Tsukuba University

Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2023-10-01
End date
2024-09-30
Keywords
Gender, Labor
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
Parental leave policies in Japan allow both mothers and fathers to take paid leave for up to 12 months. However, the uptake rate among fathers remains relatively low. In collaboration with various firms, we are conducting field experiments to investigate the impact of seminars designed to encourage the utilization of paternity leave among male workers. Additionally, we are examining the influence of social norms by experimentally varying the information provided about the views of other workers and managers regarding the use of paternity leave.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Okudaira, Hiroko et al. 2023. "Promoting Paternity Leave Take Up." AEA RCT Registry. October 23. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.12315-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2023-11-01
Intervention End Date
2024-03-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
This entry pertains exclusively to the pilot stage of the experiment. We are examining five key sets of outcome variables:

1. Willingness to use paternity leave.
2. Time spent on housework and childcare, as well as working hours.
3. Personal views on males' involvement in housework, childcare, and the utilization of paternity leave.
4. Beliefs concerning the perceptions of other workers and managers regarding males' participation in housework, childcare, and the use of paternity leave.
5. Working practices and relationships with coworkers.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
Seminar Treatment: In firms participating in our study, workers and managers are invited to attend seminars aimed at promoting the utilization of paternity leave among male employees. The timing of these seminars is randomly varied across firms.

Information Treatment: Some randomly selected workers receive information about the views of other workers and managers regarding males' participation in housework, childcare, and the utilization of paternity leave.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
The randomization process is conducted within the office using a computer.
Randomization Unit
The randomization process is conducted within the office using a computer.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
We are working with approximately 100 establishments and firms. A limited number of firms have agreed to vary the timing of the intervention within their establishment. For these specific firms, the unit of clustering is an establishment within the firm. In contrast, for the remaining firms, the unit of intervention is the firm itself.

No clustering for the information provision treatment.
Sample size: planned number of observations
3,000 employees and managers.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
For both the seminar and information treatments, approximately half of the subjects receive the treatment, while the other half serves as the control group.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Data for Social Transformation
IRB Approval Date
2023-05-22
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan