Citation

Sabia JJ, Rees DI. Econ. Inq. 2013; 51(1): 620-636.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1465-7295.2011.00440.x

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Using state-level data on suicides from the period 1987 to 2003, we find that the adoption of a law requiring a parent's notification or consent before a minor can obtain an abortion is associated with an 11%-21% reduction in the number of 15- through 17-year-old females who commit suicide. In contrast, the adoption of a parental involvement law is not associated with a reduction in the number of older females who commit suicide or in the number of 15- through 17-year-old males who commit suicide. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that parental involvement laws represent an increase in the expected cost of having unprotected sex, and, as a consequence, serve to protect young females from depression and what have been termed "stressful life events" such as conflict with a parent or an abortion. © 2012 Western Economic Association International.

Language: en