Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/193370 
Year of Publication: 
2019
Series/Report no.: 
IZA Discussion Papers No. 12076
Publisher: 
Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Bonn
Abstract: 
We examine the effects of free-of-charge availability of emergency contraception on contraceptive behaviour in Chile. Using a survey of individuals 15 to 29, we exploit variation in availability at the municipality level as a consequence of legal and judicial decisions in the late 2000s. We find an increase in the use of emergency contraception in municipalities in which it was available through the public health system, but also an increase in the use of other methods of hormonal, pre-coital contraception, and a decrease of more traditional contraceptive methods. This effect is concentrated among groups with a low starting use of contraceptives, who may benefit from the contact with the health services. Unlike previous results for developed countries, our results indicate that there is scope for an effect of emergency contraception in settings with low starting levels of contraceptive use, and a significant potential for policies to increase adoption of regular contraception.
Subjects: 
emergency contraception
youth
contraceptive behaviour
risky behaviour
JEL: 
I15
I18
J13
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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