How separation, class, and welfare states shape mothers' earnings in

A new comparative study published in Genus finds that the earnings gap after separation for first-time mothers is shaped by welfare-state design—but also that outcomes remain “far from fair” for those starting with the lowest incomes. Using Swedish population register data for 688,713 women and German public pension insurance data for 25,548 women, researchers Sarah Schmauk (Hertie School, Berlin) and Anna-Karin Nylin (Stockholm University) followed mothers from one year before a first birth until ten years after. In Sweden, separation is linked to falling earnings versus staying partnered; in West Germany the direction reverses. The study emphasizes that the mothers most needing to raise earnings are least able to do so, controlling for factors including number of children, maternal age, unemployment rates, and time period.