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The tale of Mrs Typical is one of lost income that will plague her for life, according to research from Birkbeck's economics department.

Hugh Davies, lecturer in economics, has constructed income profiles for a series of Mrs Typicals for six years. Research for the Family Policy Studies Unit supported by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, has charted how a woman who gets married, uses childcare, gets divorced, retires, or is widowed, will suffer serious dents in her potential earnings. Professor Davies said: "My research has been becoming an area of public policy in the past couple of years. "There's been movement to split pension rights on divorce, and the debate over subsidies for child care is a major issue."

Professor Davies has applied for a grant from the Leverhulme Trust to fund a study of child care arrangements.

"The Government seems to be focusing on provision for three to four-year-olds. But our latest evidence suggests the crucial time for child care is in primary school."