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How Far Is Too Far? New Evidence on Abortion Clinic Closures, Access, and Abortions

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Listed:
  • Jason M. Lindo
  • Caitlin Myers
  • Andrea Schlosser
  • Scott Cunningham

Abstract

We document the effects of abortion-clinic closures on clinic access, abortions, and births using variation generated by a law that shuttered nearly half of Texas' clinics. Increases in distance have significant effects for women initially living within 200 miles of a clinic. The largest effect is for those nearest to clinics for whom a 25-mile increase reduces abortion 10%. We also demonstrate the importance of congestion with a proxy capturing effects of closures which have little impact on distance but which reduce clinics per-capita. These effects account for 59% of the effects of clinic closures on abortion.

Suggested Citation

  • Jason M. Lindo & Caitlin Myers & Andrea Schlosser & Scott Cunningham, 2017. "How Far Is Too Far? New Evidence on Abortion Clinic Closures, Access, and Abortions," NBER Working Papers 23366, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:23366
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Packham, Analisa, 2017. "Family planning funding cuts and teen childbearing," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 168-185.
    2. Yao Lu & David J. G. Slusky, 2016. "The Impact of Women's Health Clinic Closures on Preventive Care," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 8(3), pages 100-124, July.
    3. Elizabeth Oltmans Ananat & Jonathan Gruber & Phillip Levine, 2007. "Abortion Legalization and Life-Cycle Fertility," Journal of Human Resources, University of Wisconsin Press, vol. 42(2).
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    6. Joyce, Ted & Tan, Ruoding & Zhang, Yuxiu, 2013. "Abortion before & after Roe," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(5), pages 804-815.
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • K23 - Law and Economics - - Regulation and Business Law - - - Regulated Industries and Administrative Law

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