Working Paper: NBER ID: w26662
Authors: Sarah Miller; Laura R. Wherry; Diana Greene Foster
Abstract: This paper evaluates the economic consequences of being denied an abortion due to gestational limits. We link credit report data to the Turnaway Study, the first study to collect high-quality, longitudinal data on women receiving or being denied a wanted abortion in the United States. We compare financial outcomes over a ten-year period for women who had pregnancies just above and below a gestational age limit allowing for a wanted abortion. Outcome trajectories are similar for the two groups of women prior to the abortion encounter. Following the encounter, women who were denied an abortion experience a large increase in financial distress that is sustained for several years. There is also some evidence of a short-term reduction in credit access, but no change in measures of borrowing. Our results highlight important financial and economic consequences of restrictions on abortion access.
Keywords: Abortion; Economic Consequences; Financial Distress
JEL Codes: I1; I18
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| Being denied an abortion (J13) | Significant negative financial consequences (G33) |
| Being denied an abortion (J13) | Increase in debt that is 30 days or more past due (H63) |
| Being denied an abortion (J13) | Increase in negative public records (K35) |
| Being denied an abortion (J13) | Reduction in credit access and self-sufficiency (G51) |
| Turnaway group (C92) | Increase in financial distress (G33) |
| Turnaway group (C92) | Increase in debt that is 30 days or more past due (H63) |
| Turnaway group (C92) | Increase in negative public records (K35) |
| Turnaway group (C92) | Reduction in credit access and self-sufficiency (G51) |