Hirsh Examines How Household Work Hours Shape Support for Public Childcare Across 26 Countries
Posted: 4/2/2026 (CSDE Research)
CSDE External Affiliate Elizabeth Hirsh (University of British Columbia) published a study in the International Journal of Comparative Sociology with collaborator, Erica Mildner (PhD student, University of British Columbia), examining individual support for government-provided childcare across 26 countries, using data from the International Social Survey Programme (ISSP). Household-level dynamics, particularly the “dual load” of both partners working full-time or overtime, are key predictors of support for government childcare. Women’s own full-time employment is associated with greater support for government childcare, while for men, having a full-time working partner is the stronger predictor. The findings suggest that households experiencing the heaviest work-life burdens form a natural constituency for government childcare policy.