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Does Increasing Financial Access to Contraception in the U.S. Reduce Undesired Pregnancies? Evidence from the M-CARES Randomized Control Trial at Two Years

Author

Listed:
  • Martha J. Bailey
  • Emilia Brito Rebolledo
  • Deniz Gorgulu
  • Kelsey Figone
  • Vanessa W. Lang
  • Alexa Prettyman
  • Vanessa Dalton

Abstract

We use a randomized controlled trial to examine how the costs of contraception affect method choice, pregnancy, abortion, and childbirth among U.S. women. The study recruited women seeking care through Title X—a national family planning program subsidizing reproductive health services for low-income Americans—and randomized vouchers making the full spectrum of available contraception highly discounted or free. We find that subsidizing contraception has large and persistent effects on the choice of contraceptive method, resulting in significantly fewer pregnancies and abortions within two years. Subsidizing contraception negatively affected births, but the effect was not significant at two years.

Suggested Citation

  • Martha J. Bailey & Emilia Brito Rebolledo & Deniz Gorgulu & Kelsey Figone & Vanessa W. Lang & Alexa Prettyman & Vanessa Dalton, 2025. "Does Increasing Financial Access to Contraception in the U.S. Reduce Undesired Pregnancies? Evidence from the M-CARES Randomized Control Trial at Two Years," NBER Working Papers 34400, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    • Handle: RePEc:nbr:nberwo:34400
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    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • I14 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Health and Inequality
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • 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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