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The Effects of Statutory Rape Laws on Nonmarital Teenage Childbearing

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  • Christopher Jepsen
  • Lisa K. Jepsen

Abstract

Many policy makers view the enforcement of statutory rape laws as a way to reduce teenage childbirths. This article considers whether unmarried teenage girls covered by a state statutory rape law are less likely to give birth than girls who are not covered by a statutory rape law. The presence of statutory rape laws is negatively correlated with nonmarital birthrates for white females but is not a significant predictor for black or Hispanic females. In contrast, the enforcement of statutory rape laws has a deterrent effect on teen childbearing for blacks and Hispanics but not for whites. (JEL J13,K14)

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher Jepsen & Lisa K. Jepsen, 2006. "The Effects of Statutory Rape Laws on Nonmarital Teenage Childbearing," Open Access publications 10197/4434, School of Economics, University College Dublin.
    • Handle: RePEc:ucn:oapubs:10197/4434
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    File URL: http://hdl.handle.net/10197/4434
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    Cited by:

    1. Louis‐Pierre Lepage, 2022. "Do age of consent laws decrease teen births?," Canadian Journal of Economics/Revue canadienne d'économique, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 55(3), pages 1431-1459, August.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Statutory rape--Law and legislation; Unmarried mothers; Teenage mothers;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • J13 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demographic Economics - - - Fertility; Family Planning; Child Care; Children; Youth
    • K14 - Law and Economics - - Basic Areas of Law - - - Criminal Law

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