Abstract
A comparison of the institutional context of part-time employment in Britain, Germany and the United States forms the backdrop for this study of women's part-time work and wage penalties in each country. Results using panel data and fixed-effects wage estimates show three distinct “part-time regimes”. Germany has the lowest female labour force participation rates, and the smallest penalties for part-time employment. The United States and Britain each have steep penalties for part-time work, but part-time work is much more prevalent in Britain. We conclude that family policy, welfare state provision and labour market structure behave jointly to determine distinct models of work-family balance and the financial consequences associated with them.

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