Crossnational uariations in childcare participation of 0-2 year-olds tend to be related to the degree of public financing of childcare. The price of childcare also plays an important role, and in some countries it does not pay to work once childcare costs are considered. Extensions of parental leave entitlements also had modest but negative effects on weekly working hours and the gender wage gap. Table 4.1 provides an update of Ruhm’s analysis investigating the influence of the increase in paid leave entitlements on female employment rates and on the gender gap in 30 OECD countries from 1970 to 2008.