The Dynamics of the Motherhood Penalty in Russian Labor Market

The current study focuses on estimation the impact of motherhood on women's wages and employment or estimation the «motherhood penalty» in modern Russia. The birth of the first child in a woman’s life is significant factor, on the basis of which four types of family trajectories are determined. The author uses the data of the Russian Higher School of Economics and Health Monitoring (RLMS) of the Higher School of Economics and estimates the two-stage selection Heckman model, where the employment equation is the selection equation, the logarithm of the hourly wage rate is the intensity equation. The estimates does not confirm the “motherhood penalty” for remuneration for women aged 40-55, but a child under 18 in the current period reduces the chances of being employed and working. The delayed birth of the first child after 30 years reduces wages by 21% in later periods, but it increases the chance that a woman will work after 40 years. The most successful family trajectory for a larger income is the timely birth of the first child, from 25 to 30 years. In conclusion, the author discusses the limitations of the analysis and determines possible ways to improve the study. Keywords: “motherhood penalty”, employment, family trajectory, employment of women with children, women's wage