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Does Parents' Access to Family Planning Increase Children's Opportunities? Evidence from the War on Poverty and the Early Years of Title X

Author

Listed:
  • Martha Bailey

    (University of Michigan, National Bureau of Economic Research)

  • Olga Malkova

    (Gatton College of Business and Economics)

  • Zoë M. McLaren

    (University of Michigan)

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between parents' access to family planning and the economic resources of their children. Using the county-level introduction of U.S. family planning programs between 1964 and 1973, we find that children born after programs began had 2.8% higher household incomes. They were also 7% less likely to live in poverty and 12% less likely to live in households receiving public assistance. After accounting for selection, the direct effects of family planning programs on parents' incomes account for roughly two thirds of these gains.

Suggested Citation

  • Martha Bailey & Olga Malkova & Zoë M. McLaren, 2017. "Does Parents' Access to Family Planning Increase Children's Opportunities? Evidence from the War on Poverty and the Early Years of Title X," Working Papers 2017-083, Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Working Group.
    • Handle: RePEc:hka:wpaper:2017-083
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    3. Janys, L.; & Siflinger, B.;, 2019. "Abortion and mental health: The role of selection," Health, Econometrics and Data Group (HEDG) Working Papers 19/15, HEDG, c/o Department of Economics, University of York.
    4. S Anukriti & Sonia Bhalotra & Eddy H F Tam, 2022. "On the Quantity and Quality of Girls: Fertility, Parental Investments and Mortality," The Economic Journal, Royal Economic Society, vol. 132(641), pages 1-36.
    5. Jie Ma & Kosali I. Simon, 2020. "Heterogeneous Effects Of Health Insurance On Birth Related Outcomes: Unpacking Compositional Vs. Direct Changes," NBER Working Papers 27728, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    family planning; poverty; children;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I30 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General
    • 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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