MAG 2023. Authors: Katya Ivanova (Tilburg University – Tilburg School of Social and Behavioral Sciences); Alessandro Di Nallo (Bocconi University); Selin Köksal (ISER – University of Essex)
Pregnancy loss is a public health matter affecting 11 to 21% of clinically detected pregnancies in high-income countries. Along with biological and lifestyle factors, psycho-social sources of stress such as natural disasters, economic downturns and financial instability may put pregnancies at risk. While an exposure to job loss during the gestation might be linked to an increased risk of pregnancy loss, despite the buffer of unemployment benefits. Yet, no study has provided evidence on whether an individual-level job loss affects the course of the pregnancy. We investigate whether the exposure to a job loss during pregnancy increases the risk pregnancy loss, namely miscarriage and stillbirth, in the Netherlands – a country with relatively generous unemployment benefits. We rely on high-quality Dutch register data, which allows us to link firm register, employment histories and hospitalisation records. By shedding light on the repercussions of job loss on maternal health, this study informs policymakers about the broader effectiveness of unemployment buffers and can provide recommendations on policy improvements.