The Effect of Minimum Legal Drinking Age on the Incidence of First Pregnancy and Its Outcome

Inna Cintina ()

No 2011-6R, Working Papers from University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, University of Hawaii at Manoa

Abstract: The minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) requirements can affect teen fertility rates through changes in alcohol-induced risky sexual behavior. The direction of the effect can vary depending on changes in alcohol consumption context and intensity. Using micro-level data, I find that a decrease in the MLDA increases the probability of unwanted first pregnancy among 15-20 year old blacks and poor whites. The effect on non-poor whites is not statistically significant. I find some evidence that the individual eligibility status at the time of first pregnancy rather than the state MLDA might affect fertility among non-poor whites.

Keywords: Minimum Legal Drinking Age (MLDA); Pregnancy; Fertility; Sexual Behavior; Alcohol Consumption; Discrete Hazard (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: J13 J18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 33 pages
Date: 2011-09, Revised 2013-06
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Related works:
Working Paper: The Effect of Minimum Legal Drinking Age on the Incidence of First Pregnancy and Its Outcome (2013)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hae:wpaper:2011-6r

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