DAY-CARE IN EUROPE AND MOTHERS FORGONE EARNINGS

Varying patterns of women's employment participation in European count ries are compared with differing levels of child care provision. The e arnings forgone over a lifetime by a woman bearing children and those of a childless woman are simulated for four countries. Working mothers in both Great Britain and Germany are found to have bigger earnings ' 'losses'' than those in France and Sweden, where there is also more ou t-of-home provision for school-age and younger children.