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The Impact of Legal Abortion on Maternal Mortality

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  • Farin, Sherajum Monira

    (Georgia State University)

  • Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren

    (Georgia State University)

  • Pesko, Michael

    (University of Missouri)

Abstract

Legal abortion has recently been suggested as an essential healthcare service. In this study, we consider whether abortion legalization over 1969-1973 improved women's health, measured by maternal mortality. Our event-study results indicate that legal abortion substantially lowered non-white maternal mortality by 30-40%, with 113 non-white maternal deaths averted nationally in the first year abortion became legal. We also find that early state-level legalizations were crucial, and more influential than the Roe v. Wade decision itself.

Suggested Citation

  • Farin, Sherajum Monira & Hoehn-Velasco, Lauren & Pesko, Michael, 2022. "The Impact of Legal Abortion on Maternal Mortality," IZA Discussion Papers 15657, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp15657
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    1. 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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    More about this item

    Keywords

    maternal health; Roe v. Wade; maternal mortality; legal abortion; abortion;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • K38 - Law and Economics - - Other Substantive Areas of Law - - - Human Rights Law; Gender Law; Animal Rights Law
    • H75 - Public Economics - - State and Local Government; Intergovernmental Relations - - - State and Local Government: Health, Education, and Welfare

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