Nonmarital births and state abortion policies.
This study examines the impact of various restrictive abortion laws on nonmarital childbearing since the passage of the 1996 welfare reform bill. The empirical results find that the price of an abortion, a Medicaid funding restriction, and a waiting period law are associated with a decrease in a state's nonmarital birthrate. The negative effects of restrictive abortion laws on a state's nonmarital birthrate are found to occur in various age groups. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that restrictive abortion laws induce unmarried women to change their level of unprotected sexual activity or contraceptive behavior, thereby reducing the likelihood of an unwanted nonmarital pregnancy.
Medoff
Marshall H
MH
Department of Economics, California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA. mmedoff@csulb.edu
D000029:Abortion, Legal / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002140:California; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006078:Government Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D006278:Medicare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018803:Models, Economic; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011247:Pregnancy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D015406:Single Parent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013219:State Government; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult