THE EFFECTS OF STATUTORY RAPE LAWS ON NONMARITAL TEENAGE CHILDBEARING

Christopher Jepsen and Lisa Jepsen ()

Contemporary Economic Policy, 2006, vol. 24, issue 1, 35-51

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)

Date: 2006
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https://doi.org/10.1093/cep/byj005

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Working Paper: The Effects of Statutory Rape Laws on Nonmarital Teenage Childbearing (2006)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:24:y:2006:i:1:p:35-51

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