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Multiple Births, Birth Quality and Maternal Labor Supply: Analysis of IVF Reform in Sweden

Author

Listed:
  • Bhalotra, Sonia

    (University of Essex)

  • Clarke, Damian

    (Universidad de Santiago de Chile)

  • Mühlrad, Hanna

    (Lund University)

  • Palme, Mårten

    (Stockholm University)

Abstract

In this study we examine the passage of a reform to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures in Sweden in 2003. Following publication of medical evidence showing that pregnancy success rates could be maintained using single rather than multiple embryo transfers, the single embryo transfer (SET) was mandated as the default IVF procedure. Using linked registry data for the period 1998-2007, we find that the SET reform was associated with a precipitous drop in the share of multiple births of 63%. This narrowed differences in health between IVF and non-IVF births by 53%, and differences in the labor market outcomes of mothers three years after birth by 85%. For first time mothers, it also narrowed the gap in maternal health between IVF and non-IVF births by 36%. Our findings imply that more widespread adoption of SET could lead to massive gains, reducing hospitalization costs and the foregone income of mothers and improving the long-run socioeconomic outcomes of children. This is important given that the share of IVF facilitated births exceeds 3% in several industrialized countries and is on the rise.

Suggested Citation

  • Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Mühlrad, Hanna & Palme, Mårten, 2019. "Multiple Births, Birth Quality and Maternal Labor Supply: Analysis of IVF Reform in Sweden," Working Paper Series 1289, Research Institute of Industrial Economics.
    • Handle: RePEc:hhs:iuiwop:1289
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    Cited by:

    1. Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Mühlrad, Hanna & Palme, Mårten, 2021. "Health and Labor Market Impacts of Twin Birth : Evidence from a Swedish IVF Policy Mandate," The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS) 1391, University of Warwick, Department of Economics.
    2. Bensnes, Simon & Huitfeldt, Ingrid & Leuven, Edwin, 2023. "Reconciling Estimates of the Long-Term Earnings Effect of Fertility," IZA Discussion Papers 16174, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    3. Bhalotra, Sonia & Clarke, Damian & Walther, Selma, 2022. "Women's Careers and Family Formation," GLO Discussion Paper Series 1120, Global Labor Organization (GLO).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    IVF; Fertility; Maternal health; Neonatal health; Career penalty; Human capital formation;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I11 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Analysis of Health Care Markets
    • I12 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health Behavior
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • J24 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Human Capital; Skills; Occupational Choice; Labor Productivity

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