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Sex and the Single Girl: The Role of Culture in Contraception Demand

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  • Kelly Ragan

    (Stockholm School of Economics)

Abstract

Historical differences in out-of-wedlock childbearing predict a quarter of demand for the Pill in Sweden. The positive relationship is robust to the inclusion of extensive economic and demographic controls, marriage market characteristics, and religion measures. Alternative estimators and empirical models that account for fixed community characteristics yield similar results. A model of demand for premarital sex is developed where social sanctions and marriage customs play a prominent role. The model illustrates how these features of culture influence both unwed birth and adoption of new contraceptive technologies. The model and empirical evidence paint a consistent picture; culture matters for contraception demand.

Suggested Citation

  • Kelly Ragan, 2012. "Sex and the Single Girl: The Role of Culture in Contraception Demand," 2012 Meeting Papers 846, Society for Economic Dynamics.
    • Handle: RePEc:red:sed012:846
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    Cited by:

    1. Eder, Christoph & Halla, Martin, 2020. "Economic origins of cultural norms: The case of animal husbandry and bastardy," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).

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