Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/317760 
Year of Publication: 
2025
Series/Report no.: 
GLO Discussion Paper No. 1609
Publisher: 
Global Labor Organization (GLO), Essen
Abstract: 
I evaluate the impact of abortion policies in sub-Saharan Africa to understand the potential consequences of a reduced international support for women's rights following the overturn of Roe v. Wade. I find that decriminalizing abortion reduces fertility through two complementary channels. For households at the top of the wealth distribution, the effect manifests as a reduction in excess fertility, which is more pronounced among lower-educated women due to their lower likelihood of using contraception. For households at the bottom of the wealth distribution, the impact runs through a decline in the number of children with a low survival probability. This latter effect is more pronounced among highly educated women, who are more likely to control their own health-related decisions and view abortion as a viable option. I also find that while women's education levels rise after decriminalization, this does not lead to better labor market opportunities. Children born afterwards tend to achieve higher levels of education.
Subjects: 
Abortion
fertility
child mortality
human capital
JEL: 
O15
L18
J13
J16
K38
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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