| Access to abortion, investments in neonatal health, and sex-selection: Evidence from Nepal |
| Authors: |
Christine Valente |
| Source: |
Journal of Development Economics, 107: 225-243; DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2013.12.002 |
| Topic(s): |
Abortion
Fertility
Fertility preferences
Gender
|
| Country: |
Asia
Nepal
|
| Published: |
MAR 2014 |
| Abstract: |
I combine fertility histories from the 2006 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey with a census of newly introduced legal abortion centers to estimate the impact of reducing the cost of abortion on pregnancy outcomes, gender, and neonatal health. Contrary to previous studies, I identify the within-mother, behavioral response to improved access to abortion by comparing siblings conceived before and after the opening of an abortion center nearby. Closeness to a legal abortion center decreases the probability of a birth but has no discernible effect on observable investments in neonatal health and does not lead to more sex-selection. |
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