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The Effect of Abortion Legalization on Fertility, Marriage and Long-term Outcomes for Women

Author

Listed:
  • Libertad González
  • Sergi Jiménez-Martín
  • Natalia Nollenberger
  • Judit Vall Castello

Abstract

We evaluate the short- and long-term effects for women of access to subsidized, legal abortion by exploiting the Spanish legalization of abortion in 1985. Using birth records and survey data, we find robust evidence that the legalization led to an immediate decrease in the number of births to women aged 21 and younger. This effect was driven by provinces with a higher supply of abortion services. In those regions, young women affected by the reform were also less likely to marry. Using data from the Labor Force Survey and exploiting the rollout of abortion clinics across provinces and over time, we find evidence that the affected cohorts of women, who were able to postpone fertility as a result of the legalization of abortion, achieved higher educational attainment and had higher life satisfaction 20 years after the reform. We do not find evidence of increases in the probability of being employed.

Suggested Citation

  • Libertad González & Sergi Jiménez-Martín & Natalia Nollenberger & Judit Vall Castello, 2018. "The Effect of Abortion Legalization on Fertility, Marriage and Long-term Outcomes for Women," Studies on the Spanish Economy eee2018-08, FEDEA.
    • Handle: RePEc:fda:fdaeee:eee2018-08
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    Cited by:

    1. Fernanda Marquez-Padilla & Biani Saavedra, 2022. "The unintended effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders on abortions," Journal of Population Economics, Springer;European Society for Population Economics, vol. 35(1), pages 269-305, January.
    2. Zuazu Bermejo, Izaskun, 2018. "Cultural Values, Family Decisions and Gender Segregation in Higher Education: Evidence from 26 OECD Economies," IKERLANAK 28186, Universidad del País Vasco - Departamento de Fundamentos del Análisis Económico I.
    3. Rodríguez-Planas, Núria & Secor, Alan, 2025. "Gender, Perceived Discrimination and the Overruling of Roe v. Wade," IZA Discussion Papers 17807, IZA Network @ LISER.
    4. Pieroni, Luca & Roig, Melcior Rosselló & Salmasi, Luca & Turati, Gilberto, 2025. "Legal status and voluntary abortions by immigrants," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    5. Cecilia Velázquez, 2024. "Abortion Legalization and Adolescent Fertility: New Evidence for Uruguay Based on the Synthetic Control Method," CEDLAS, Working Papers 0339, CEDLAS, Universidad Nacional de La Plata.
    6. Dench, Daniel & Pineda-Torres, Mayra & Myers, Caitlin, 2024. "The effects of post-Dobbs abortion bans on fertility," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    7. Jones, Kelly M. & Pineda-Torres, Mayra, 2024. "TRAP’d Teens: Impacts of abortion provider regulations on fertility & education," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    8. Nuria Rodriguez-Planas & Alan Secor, 2024. "Gender, perceived discrimination and the overruling of Roe V. Wade," Working Papers 2024/13, Institut d'Economia de Barcelona (IEB).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • J12 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Marriage; Marital Dissolution; Family Structure
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • I21 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Education - - - Analysis of Education
    • C21 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Cross-Sectional Models; Spatial Models; Treatment Effect Models

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