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The Impact of Early Fertility Shocks on Women’s Fertility and Labor Market Outcomes

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  • Ali Abboud

    (American University of Beirut)

Abstract

This paper evaluates the effect of unplanned fertility shocks on women’s careers. I exploit the early repeal of abortion bans in five US states. This leads to variation in access to abortion across states and birth cohorts, which allows the estimation of the effect of accessing abortion at a certain age on women’s fertility. The evidence suggests that accessing abortion before the age of 21 delayed the age at which women gave birth to their first child by half a year on average. I also document an increase in completed fertility among Black women who received access to abortion early in their fertility cycle. The resulting variation in fertility realizations is then used to estimate the effect of fertility on women’s careers. I find that wages increase significantly as a result of the delay of an unplanned start of motherhood. This increase in wages translates into a 10% increase in labor earnings among Black women, and it is completely offset by the a decrease in labor supply for White women.

Suggested Citation

  • Ali Abboud, 2025. "The Impact of Early Fertility Shocks on Women’s Fertility and Labor Market Outcomes," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 194-227, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jfamec:v:46:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1007_s10834-024-09981-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10834-024-09981-9
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Abortion; Earnings; Fertility shocks; Labor supply; Motherhood; Unplanned pregnancy;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J08 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - General - - - Labor Economics Policies
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health

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