Colloquium: Abortion Access and Long-Run Household Outcomes: Evidence from Population-Wide Administrative Data

Abstract:
This paper examines the economic impacts of access to medical pregnancy terminations (the abortion pill) using administrative, individual-level data on the full population of Australia. Exploiting a unique setting that resulted from the drug being listed in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS), we first document the change in pregnancy termination utilization and births for relevant cohorts of pregnant females. Next, we study follow-on effects on labour market, education, and family formation, considering heterogenous effects for different sub-groups. Finally, we look at spillovers to household members, such as partners and children.