Question

Many working mothers have to pay for childcare costs. If they don't work, they do not have to pay for these costs. If childcare costs go up dramatically, the effect will be to ________ the labor force participation of working mothers and to ________ the hours of work for those mothers who continue to work

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct word for the blank space is: decrease; increase.

Explanation:

If childcare costs would significantly increase, the number of working mothers in the labor force would likely decrease since their wages possibly will not justify continuing working and paying a baby sitter a wage that represents most of their salary. Otherwise, the wages of the working mothers would have to increase proportionally to the increase in babysitting costs to continue working.