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The inter-generational fertility effect of an abortion ban

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  • Federico H. Gutierrez

    (Department of Economics)

Abstract

This study examines the extent to which banning women from having abortions affected the fertility of their children, who did not face a similar legal constraint. Using multiple censuses from Romania, I follow men and women born around the time Romania banned abortion in the mid-1960s to investigate the demand for children over their life cycle. The empirical approach combines elements of regression discontinuity design and the Heckman selection model. The results indicate that individuals whose mothers were affected by the ban had significantly lower demand for children than those who were not. One-third of the decline is explained by inherited socio-economic status.

Suggested Citation

  • Federico H. Gutierrez, 2022. "The inter-generational fertility effect of an abortion ban," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(1), pages 307-348, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:jopoec:v:35:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s00148-020-00802-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s00148-020-00802-5
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    Cited by:

    1. Grace Arnold, 2022. "The impact of targeted regulation of abortion providers laws on abortions and births," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(4), pages 1443-1472, October.
    2. Clarke, Damian, 2023. "The Economics of Abortion Policy," IZA Discussion Papers 16395, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Garima Rastogi & Anisha Sharma, 2022. "Unwanted daughters: the unintended consequences of a ban on sex-selective abortions on the educational attainment of women," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(4), pages 1473-1516, October.
    4. António Melo, 2024. "Do all roads lead to the same destination? Proximity to abortion providers, abortions, and their conditions in Portugal," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 37(4), pages 1-31, December.

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