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Abortion and Human Capital Accumulation: A Contribution to the Understanding of the Gender Gap in Education

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  • Leonid V. Azarnert

    (Bar Ilan University)

Abstract

This article analyzes the relationship between abortion and female education. It provides new empirical evidence from sub-Saharan Africa to show that more liberal abortion policies are associated with a higher female secondary school enrollment. It is assumed in the model that easier access to abortion decreases probability of dropping out of school for a female child in the case of an occasional pregnancy. As a consequence, it enhances parental investments in human capital of their female offspring and helps to reduce the gender gap in education, as consistent with the evidence.

Suggested Citation

  • Leonid V. Azarnert, 2008. "Abortion and Human Capital Accumulation: A Contribution to the Understanding of the Gender Gap in Education," Working Papers 2008-06, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:biu:wpaper:2008-06
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    Cited by:

    1. Getrude Njokwe & Yoko Kijima, 2025. "Abortion Legalization, Teen Sexual and Reproductive Health Behaviors, and Women’s Empowerment in South Africa," GRIPS Discussion Papers 25-09, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
    2. Leonid V. Azarnert, 2014. "Integrated public education, fertility and human capital," Education Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 22(2), pages 166-180, April.
    3. Azarnert, Leonid V., 2018. "Refugee resettlement, redistribution and growth," European Journal of Political Economy, Elsevier, vol. 54(C), pages 89-98.
    4. Leonid V. Azarnert, 2025. "Migration, Child Education, Human Capital Accumulation, and a Brain Dilution Tax," CESifo Working Paper Series 11727, CESifo.
    5. Chaudhuri, Sanjukta, 2010. "Women's Empowerment in South Asia and Southeast Asia: A Comparative Analysis," MPRA Paper 19686, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Leonid V. Azarnert & Slava Yakubenko, 2021. "Effects of Emigration on Gender Norms in Countries of Origin," CESifo Working Paper Series 9450, CESifo.
    7. Leonid V. Azarnert, 2011. "Male vs. Female Guest-Worker Migration: Does it Matter for Fertility in the Source Country?," Working Papers 2011-25, Bar-Ilan University, Department of Economics.
    8. Azarnert, Leonid V., 2016. "Transportation Costs And The Great Divergence," Macroeconomic Dynamics, Cambridge University Press, vol. 20(1), pages 214-228, January.

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    JEL classification:

    • I0 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - General
    • J1 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics
    • O1 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development

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