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An Economic Analysis of the Demand for Abortions

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  • Medoff, Marshall H

Abstract

This study uses an economic model of fertility control to estimate the demand for abortions. The results show that the fundamen tal law of demand holds for abortions, with the price elasticity of d emand equal to A0.81. Abortions are a normal good with an income elas ticity of demand equal to 0.79. The demand for abortions is also posi tively related to the labor force participation of women and to being unmarried. Catholic religion, education, and the poverty status of w omen were found to have no statistically significant impact on the de mand for abortions. Copyright 1988 by Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Medoff, Marshall H, 1988. "An Economic Analysis of the Demand for Abortions," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 26(2), pages 353-359, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:oup:ecinqu:v:26:y:1988:i:2:p:353-59
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Bosede Awoyemi & Jacob Novignon, 2014. "Demand for abortion and post abortion care in Ibadan, Nigeria," Health Economics Review, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Leo H. Kahane, 1994. "Political, Ideological and Economic Determinants of Abortion Position: An Empirical Analysis of Stale Legislatures and Governors," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 53(3), pages 347-359, July.
    3. Marshall Medoff, 2008. "The Response of Abortion Demand to Changes in Abortion Costs," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 87(2), pages 329-346, June.
    4. Annette Hofmann & Julia K. Neumann & Peter Zweifel, 2019. "Risky health decisions under regulatory constraints: Abortion tourism in Switzerland," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 59(3), pages 203-237, December.
    5. Medoff, Marshall H., 2003. "The impact of anti-abortion activities on state abortion rates," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 265-282, July.
    6. Robert W. Brown & R. Todd Jewell, 1996. "The Impact Of Provider Availability On Abortion Demand," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 14(2), pages 95-106, April.
    7. Levine, Phillip B. & Trainor, Amy B. & Zimmerman, David J., 1996. "The effect of Medicaid abortion funding restrictions on abortions, pregnancies and births," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 555-578, October.
    8. Deborah Haas-Wilson, 1993. "The economic impact of state restrictions on abortion: Parental consent and notification laws and medicaid funding restrictions," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 12(3), pages 498-511.
    9. Andrew Beauchamp, 2015. "Regulation, Imperfect Competition, And The U.S. Abortion Market," International Economic Review, Department of Economics, University of Pennsylvania and Osaka University Institute of Social and Economic Research Association, vol. 56(3), pages 963-996, August.
    10. Bisakha Sen, 2003. "Can Beer Taxes Affect Teen Pregnancy? Evidence Based on Teen Abortion Rates and Birth Rates," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 70(2), pages 328-343, October.
    11. Rand W. Ressler & Melissa S. Waters & John Keith Watson, 2006. "Contributing Factors to the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(4), pages 943-961, October.
    12. Marshall Medoff, 2007. "Price, Restrictions and Abortion Demand," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 28(4), pages 583-599, December.
    13. Robert W. Brown & R. Todd Jewell & Jeffrey J. Rous, 2001. "Provider Availability, Race, and Abortion Demand," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 67(3), pages 656-671, January.
    14. Marshall Medoff, 1989. "Constituencies, ideology, and the demand for abortion legislation," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 60(2), pages 185-191, February.
    15. Manouchehr Mokhtari & Nader Asgary, 2009. "Effects of Consumer Goods Shortages on Fertility in Post-Soviet Economy," Journal of Family and Economic Issues, Springer, vol. 30(2), pages 160-170, June.
    16. Stephan F. Gohmann & Robert L. Ohsfeldt, 1993. "Effects Of Price And Availability On Abortion Demand," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 11(4), pages 42-55, October.
    17. Blank, Rebecca M. & George, Christine C. & London, Rebecca A., 1996. "State abortion rates the impact of policies, providers, politics, demographics, and economic environment," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 513-553, October.
    18. Robert L. Ohsfeldt & Stephan F. Gohmann, 1994. "Do Parental Involvement Laws Reduce Adolescent Abortion Rates?," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 12(2), pages 65-76, April.
    19. Neil Longley, 1999. "Voting on Abortion in the House of Commons: A Test for Legislator Shirking," Canadian Public Policy, University of Toronto Press, vol. 25(4), pages 503-521, December.
    20. Medoff, Marshall H., 1999. "An estimate of teenage abortion demand," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 28(2), pages 175-184, July.
    21. Marshall Medoff, 2014. "Race, Restrictive State Abortion Laws and Abortion Demand," The Review of Black Political Economy, Springer;National Economic Association, vol. 41(2), pages 225-240, June.

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