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Contributing Factors to the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases

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  • Rand W. Ressler
  • Melissa S. Waters
  • John Keith Watson

Abstract

. Economists have long studied the determinants and effects of income transfers. This article examines an indirect effect of welfare payments on participating individuals: an increase in the incidence of sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates. Several studies have found a significant and positive link between the size of welfare benefits and out‐of‐wedlock fertility rates. Higher welfare payments reduce the cost of bearing and raising a child, and thus reduce the full cost of engaging in unprotected sex. An unintended consequence of unprotected sex is exposure to contagious diseases. This implies that states with higher welfare payments per child will experience higher rates of STDs. We test this hypothesis using statewide data on the incidence of three types of bacterial STDs, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, for the years 1994 through 1998. The empirical specification is based on the standard microeconomic model of utility‐maximizing behavior. The included explanatory variables are demographic proxies reflecting differences in state population characteristics. These characteristics capture unobservable or intrinsically unmeasureable differences in the perceived costs and benefits of engaging in unprotected sex. The explanatory variable of primary interest is the size of the real welfare payment per recipient. Our empirical results indicate that states with higher real welfare payments are associated with greater rates of STDs.

Suggested Citation

  • Rand W. Ressler & Melissa S. Waters & John Keith Watson, 2006. "Contributing Factors to the Spread of Sexually Transmitted Diseases," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 65(4), pages 943-961, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:ajecsc:v:65:y:2006:i:4:p:943-961
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1536-7150.2006.00483.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Moffitt, Robert, 1992. "Incentive Effects of the U.S. Welfare System: A Review," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 30(1), pages 1-61, March.
    2. Randall H King & Steven C Myers & Dennis M Byrne, 1992. "The Demand for Abortion by Unmarried Teenagers," American Journal of Economics and Sociology, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 51(2), pages 223-235, April.
    3. Rand W. Ressler & Melissa S. Waters & R. Carter Hill & John Keith Watson, 2005. "Welfare Payments and the Spread of HIV in the United States," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 23(1), pages 40-49, January.
    4. Arleen Leibowitz & Winston Chow & Marvin Eisen, 1986. "An economic model of teenage pregnancy decision-making," Demography, Springer;Population Association of America (PAA), vol. 23(1), pages 67-77, February.
    5. Stephan F. Gohmann & Robert L. Ohsfeldt, 1993. "Effects Of Price And Availability On Abortion Demand," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 11(4), pages 42-55, October.
    6. Medoff, Marshall H, 1988. "An Economic Analysis of the Demand for Abortions," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 26(2), pages 353-359, April.
    7. Medoff, Marshall H, 1993. "An Empirical Analysis of Adoption," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 31(1), pages 59-70, January.
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    Cited by:

    1. D. Mark Anderson & Claus C. Pörtner, 2014. "High School Dropouts and Sexually Transmitted Infections," Southern Economic Journal, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 81(1), pages 113-134, July.
    2. Ressler, Rand W. & Waters, Melissa S. & Hill, R. Carter, 2011. "Welfare Reform and the Spread of HIV," Review of Applied Economics, Lincoln University, Department of Financial and Business Systems, vol. 7(1-2), pages 1-15, March.

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