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Financial Incentives, Contraceptive Use and Abortion Behavior

Author

Listed:
  • Mathilde Almlund

    (VIVE, The Danish Center for Social Science Research)

  • Mette Ejrnaes

    (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

  • Thomas H. Joergensen

    (Department of Economics, University of Copenhagen)

Abstract

We examine whether financial incentives affect fertility and family planning. We use a reform reducing child benefits paid to larger families together with Danish longitudinal register data on the universe of legal abortions and birth control pill purchases to address this question. We find that partnered women in low-income households reduced their fertility in response to the reform, partly by increasing the use of abortions. Younger women also increased the use of oral contraceptives. Responses are largest for younger and cohabiting women compared to their married counterparts. Our results show that family policies can affect family planning through financial incentives.

Suggested Citation

  • Mathilde Almlund & Mette Ejrnaes & Thomas H. Joergensen, 2025. "Financial Incentives, Contraceptive Use and Abortion Behavior," CEBI working paper series 25-02, University of Copenhagen. Department of Economics. The Center for Economic Behavior and Inequality (CEBI).
    • Handle: RePEc:kud:kucebi:2502
    as

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    File URL: https://www.econ.ku.dk/cebi/publikationer/working-papers/CEBI_WP_02-25.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Childbirth; Abortion; Birth control; The Pill; Child Benefits;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J16 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Economics of Gender; Non-labor Discrimination

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