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An economic analysis of pregnancy resolution in Virginia: specific as to race and residence

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Abstract

This study analyses an economic model of pregnancy resolution; that is, a model of the choice by a pregnant woman to abort her fetus or carry it to term. This analysis, using an analytical model derived from the household utility framework, adds to previous research by presenting race and residence specific estimates of how individual characteristics, history of abortion, and the community-based factors determine women's choices of giving birth vs. abortion. The main data for estimating the model were drawn from the 1984 vital statistics of all induced abortions and live births in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The major findings indicate that low parental education, high maternal age, previous early abortions, and the availability of abortion providers all significantly reduce the probability of choosing the live birth option. Married status and the availability of family planning clinics significantly increase the probability of the live birth option. The findings also suggest that women's choices between abortion and live birth vary substantially with race (white vs. black) and residential (urban vs. rural) location.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Economics and Policy, University of Southern California, 1540 E Alcazar Street, 90033, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Gordon G. Liu

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  1. Gordon G. Liu
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Additional information

I am very grateful to Professors Michael Grossman and Theodore Joyce at CUNY/NBER for their advice and comments on earlier version of this paper, to Professors William Hsiao at Harvard and Richard Ernst at USC for their supportive encouragement and insightful comments, and finally to two anonymous referees for their constructive suggestions in revising this analysis.

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Liu, G.G. An economic analysis of pregnancy resolution in Virginia: specific as to race and residence. J Popul Econ 8, 253–264 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185252

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00185252

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