Measuring the Burden: The Effect of Travel Distance on Abortions and Births

Caitlin Myers

No 14556, IZA Discussion Papers from Institute of Labor Economics (IZA)

Abstract: I compile and disseminate novel panel data sets measuring county-level travel distances to abortion facilities and resident abortion rates. Using these data and exploiting temporal and spatial variation in distances, I implement difference-in-difference research designs measuring the causal effects of distance to the nearest abortion facility. The results indicate large and non-linear effect: An increase in travel distance from 0 to 100 miles—a level that courts have generally treated as not unduly burdensome for women seeking abortions—is estimated to prevent 20.5% of women seeking an abortion from reaching a provider, and in turn to increase births by 2.4%.

Keywords: travel distance; abortions; births (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I11 I12 J13 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 32 pages
Date: 2021-07
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-hea, nep-tre and nep-ure
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (6)

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