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Methodological Issues in the Evaluation of Parental Involvement Laws: Evidence from Texas

Author

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  • Silvie Colman
  • Theodore J. Joyce
  • Robert Kaestner

Abstract

The number of states that require parental involvement in a minor's decision to terminate a pregnancy has more than doubled since 1988. Congress is currently considering legislation that would further limit access to abortion for minors who reside in states that enforce parental involvement laws. So far, the academic literature has not reached a consensus as to the impact of such abortion restrictions, mainly due to methodological limitations caused by the inability to measure cross-state travel and misclassification of exposure. Using detailed data on abortions and births from Texas, we demonstrate that these limitations led researchers to overestimate the decline in minors' abortion rate, underestimate the increase in their birth rate, and to miss an important behavioral response to the law, which is the tendency to delay the abortion among a group of older minors. Correction of these methodological problems is important given the controversy surrounding abortion and the need of voters and policymakers to accurately assess the likely impact of these laws.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvie Colman & Theodore J. Joyce & Robert Kaestner, 2006. "Methodological Issues in the Evaluation of Parental Involvement Laws: Evidence from Texas," NBER Working Papers 12608, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:12608
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Rogers, J.L. & Boruch, R.F. & Stoms, G.B. & DeMoya, D., 1991. "Impact of the Minnesota parental notification law on abortion and birth," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 81(3), pages 294-298.
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    5. Joyce, Theodore & Kaestner, Robert, 1996. "State reproductive policies and adolescent pregnancy resolution: The case of parental involvement laws," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 15(5), pages 579-607, October.
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    7. Meyer, Bruce D, 1995. "Natural and Quasi-experiments in Economics," Journal of Business & Economic Statistics, American Statistical Association, vol. 13(2), pages 151-161, April.
    8. Ellertson, C., 1997. "Mandatory parental involvement in minor's abortions: Effects of the laws in Minnesota, Missouri, and Indiana," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 87(8), pages 1367-1374.
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    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J18 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Public Policy

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