🔎 Market Mysteries

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The United States lags behind most major nations in supporting parents through the birth and care of their children. Supporting mothers not only decreases inequality but generates greater economic returns. More companies are starting to invest in their workers, but there’s still a lot more work to do.

Maternity leave is crucial for every family’s physical and financial health. In the United States, a country celebrated for its economic might and democratic values, the support for new parents through maternity leave and daycare is alarmingly inadequate compared to global standards. America remains the only nation among 41 advanced economies without mandated paid parental leave, lagging behind countries like Estonia, which offers over a year and a half of leave.

This period is essential not just for the mother’s mental and physical recovery but also for the child’s emotional and psychological development. Providing less than eight weeks of paid leave is associated with decreased overall health and more depression. Each extra week of paid leave reduces the risk of poor mental health in mothers by 2%. Paid leave also cuts the chance of re-hospitalization in half for both the mother and infant. Moreover, maternity leave can significantly reduce the risk of postpartum depression, a condition that can have long-lasting effects on both the mother and the child. By providing a stress-free period to adjust to motherhood, maternity leave helps ensure the well-being of both mother and child, which is fundamental to developing a healthy society.

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