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Does Reality TV Induce Real Effects? On the Questionable Association Between 16 and Pregnant and Teenage Childbearing

Author

Listed:
  • Jaeger, David A.

    (University of St. Andrews)

  • Joyce, Theodore J.

    (Baruch College, City University of New York)

  • Kaestner, Robert

    (University of California, Riverside)

Abstract

We reassess recent and widely reported evidence that the MTV program 16 and Pregnant played a major role in reducing teen birth rates in the U.S. since it began broadcasting in 2009 (Kearney and Levine, American Economic Review 2015). We find Kearney and Levine's identification strategy to be problematic. Through a series of placebo and other tests, we show that the exclusion restriction of their instrumental variables approach is not valid and find that the assumption of common trends in birth rates between low and high MTV-watching areas is not met. We also reassess Kearney and Levine's evidence from social media and show that it is fragile and highly sensitive to the choice of included periods and to the use of weights. We conclude that Kearney and Levine's results are uninformative about the effect of 16 and Pregnant on teen birth rates.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaeger, David A. & Joyce, Theodore J. & Kaestner, Robert, 2016. "Does Reality TV Induce Real Effects? On the Questionable Association Between 16 and Pregnant and Teenage Childbearing," IZA Discussion Papers 10317, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    • Handle: RePEc:iza:izadps:dp10317
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    Cited by:

    1. Lindo, Jason M. & Swensen, Isaac D. & Waddell, Glen R., 2022. "Effects of violent media content: Evidence from the rise of the UFC," Journal of Health Economics, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    2. Francesco C. Billari & Osea Giuntella & Luca Stella, 2019. "Does broadband Internet affect fertility?," Population Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 73(3), pages 297-316, September.
    3. Donald P. Green & Adam Zelizer & Winston Lin, 2021. "How Effective Are Radio Messages Aimed at Reducing Teen Births Among Latinas? A Randomized Controlled Trial," Population Research and Policy Review, Springer;Southern Demographic Association (SDA), vol. 40(4), pages 695-722, August.
    4. Fletcher, Jason M. & Polos, Jessica, 2017. "Nonmarital and Teen Fertility," IZA Discussion Papers 10833, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    5. Jason M. Lindo & Isaac D. Swensen & Glen R. Waddell, 2020. "Persistent Effects of Violent Media Content," NBER Working Papers 27240, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    teen childbearing; media; social media; internet;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • L82 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Entertainment; Media

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