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Does Family Planning Increase Children�S Opportunities? Evidence From The War On Poverty And The Early Years Of Title X

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Listed:
  • Martha J. Bailey
  • Olga Malkova
  • Zo� M. McLaren

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between parents� access to family planning and the economic resources of the average child. Using the county-level introduction of U.S. family planning programs between 1964 and 1973, we find that children born after programs began had 2.5% higher household incomes. They were also 7% less likely to live in poverty and 11% less likely to live in households receiving public assistance. Even with extreme assumptions about selection, these estimates are large enough to imply that family planning programs directly increased children�s resources, including increases in mothers� paid work and increased childbearing within marriage.

Suggested Citation

  • Martha J. Bailey & Olga Malkova & Zo� M. McLaren, 2016. "Does Family Planning Increase Children�S Opportunities? Evidence From The War On Poverty And The Early Years Of Title X," Working Papers 16-29, Center for Economic Studies, U.S. Census Bureau.
    • Handle: RePEc:cen:wpaper:16-29
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    Cited by:

    1. Martha J. Bailey & Jason M. Lindo, 2017. "Access and Use of Contraception and Its Effects on Women’s Outcomes in the U.S," NBER Working Papers 23465, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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