Vietnam finds childcare is economic infrastructure, not a family problem

Childbirth causes a 27% drop in urban household income for women in Vietnam, but has no effect on men. This means that women, who make up 75% of the industrial workforce, are forced out of jobs because of a lack of childcare.

For years, governments have treated childcare as a private family matter. This paper shows that it is actually a critical piece of economic infrastructure, just like roads or electricity. If women cannot access affordable childcare, they cannot work, and the economy loses out on their productivity. Vietnam's ambition to reach high-income status by 2045 depends on keeping women in the workforce.