Results summarised in the table suggest that the extension of paid leave entitlements -irrespective of payment rates - has had rather a negative effect - if any - on the employment rate of women aged from 25 to 54 years, as well as on the female-to-male employment ratio.9 The results offer no support for earlier findings that suggested a positive effect of birth leave durations on female employment rates. The increase in female labour force participation since the 1960s (Chapter 1) went hand-in-hand with the development of work/family life balance policies of which access to affordable childcare of good quality11 is an important element. Countries differ in the emphasis they put on underlying objectives on gender equity, having children (Chapter 3) and promoting child well-being and child development (Chapter 5). But concerns on labour supply often play an important role when policy measures are taken, as for example, recently in Mexico (Box 4.3).