Abstract
This research examines 23 different laws passed by state governments in an effort to restrict the number of abortions. It assesses both laws passed and laws actually enforced after the Supreme Court permitted states to restrict access to abortion in 1989. None of the policy actions by state governments has had a significant impact on the incidence of abortion from 1982 to 1992. Abortion rates continue to reflect past abortion rates, the number of abortion providers, whether the state funds abortions for Medicaid-eligible women, urbanism, and racial composition of the population. Recent restrictive policies have not affected these trends.
Parental Involvement, Abortion Rate, Abortion Service, Parental Notification, Family Planning Perspective
The text of this article is only available as a PDF.
References
Althaus, F.A., & Henshaw, S.K. (
1994
). The Effects of Mandatory Delay Laws on Abortion Patients and Providers
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 26
, 228
–31
. 10.2307/2135944Blank, R.M., C.C. George, and R.A. London. 1994. “State Abortion Rates: The Impact of Policies, Providers, Politics, Demographics and Economic Environment.” Mimeographed document, Department of Economics, Northwestern University.
Cartoof, V.G., & Klerman, L.V. (
1986
). Parental Consent for Abortion: Impact of the Massachusetts Law
. American Journal of Public Health
, 76
, 397
–400
. 10.2105/AJPH.76.4.397Corman, H., & Grossman, M. (
1985
). Determinants of Neonatal Mortality Rates in the US
. Journal of Health Economics
, 4
, 231
–36
. 10.1016/0167-6296(85)90030-XGohmann, S.F., & Ohsfeldt, R.L. (
1993
). Effects of Price and Availability on Abortion Demand
. Contemporary Policy issues
, 11
, 42
–55
. 10.1111/j.1465-7287.1993.tb00400.xGold, R.B. (
1990
). Abortion and Women s Health: A Turning Point for America
. New York
: Alan Guttmacher Institute
.Gold, R.B., & Daley, D. (
1991
). Public Funding of Contraceptive, Sterilization, and Abortion Services, Fiscal Year 1990
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 23
, 204
–11
. 10.2307/2135754Gold, R.B., & Guardado, S. (
1988
). Public Funding of Contraceptive, Sterilization, and Abortion Services
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 20
, 228
–33
. 10.2307/2135625Gold, R.B., & Macias, J. (
1986
). Public Funding of Contraceptive, Sterilization, and Abortion Services, 1985
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 18
, 259
–64
. 10.2307/2134949Gold, R.B., & Nestor, B. (
1985
). Public Funding of Contraceptive, Sterilization, and Abortion Services, 1983
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 17
, 25
–30
. 10.2307/2135220Greenhouse, L. 1989. “Supreme Court, 5-4, Narrowing Roe v. Wade, Upholds Sharp State Limits on Abortions.” New York Times, July 4, p. 11.
Grossman, M., & Jacobowitz, S. (
1981
). Variations in Infant Mortality Rates among Counties of the United States
. Demography
, 18
, 695
–713
. 10.2307/2060956Halva-Neubauer, G. (
1990
). Abortion Policy in the Post-Webster Age
. Publius
, 20
, 27
–44
. 10.2307/3330213Hansen, S.B. (
1980
). State Implementation of Supreme Court Decisions: Abortion Rates since Roe v. Wade
. Journal of Politics
, 42
, 372
–95
.Hansen, S.B. (
1993
). Differences in Public Policies toward Abortions: Electoral and Policy Context
. In Goggin, M. (Ed.), Understanding the New Politics of Abortion
(pp. 222
–48
). Newbury Park, CA
: Sage
.Henshaw, S.K., Koonin, L.M., & Smith, J.C. (
1991
). Characteristics of U.S. Women Having Abortions, 1987
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 23
, 75
–79
. 10.2307/2135453Henshaw, S.K., & Van Vort, J. (
1988
). Abortion Services in the United States, Each State and Metropolitan Area, 1984–1985
. New York
: Alan Guttmacher Institute
.Henshaw, S.K. (
1990
). Abortion Services in the United States, 1987–88
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 22
, 102
–108
. 10.2307/2135639Henshaw, S.K. (
1994
). Abortion Services in the United States, 1991 and 1992
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 26
, 100
–106
. 10.2307/2136033Jones, E.F., & Forrest, J.D. (
1992
). Underreporting of Abortion Surveys of U.S. Women: 1976 to 1988
. Demography
, 29
, 114
–21
. 10.2307/2061366Luker, K. (
1984
). Abortion and the Politics of Motherhood
. Berkeley
: University of California Press
.McFarlane, D.R. (
1993
). U.S. Abortion Policy since Roe v. Wade
. American Journal of Gynecologic Health
, 7
, 17
–25
.Medoff, M.H. (
1988
). An Economic Analysis of the Demand for Abortions
. Economic inquiry
, 26
, 353
–59
. 10.1111/j.1465-7295.1988.tb01499.xMeier, K.J., & McFarlane, D.R. (
1993
). Abortion Politics and Abortion Funding Policy
. In Goggin, M. (Ed.), Understanding the New Politics of Abortion
(pp. 249
–67
). Newbury Park, CA
: Sage
.Meier, K.J. (
1994
). State Family Planning and Abortion Expenditures: Their Effect on Public Health
. American Journal of Public Health
, 84
, 1468
–72
. 10.2105/AJPH.84.9.1468Ohsfeldt, R.L., & Gohmann, S.F. (
1994
). Do Parental Involvement Laws Reduce Adolescent Abortion Rates?
. Contemporary Policy Issues
, 12
, 65
–76
. 10.1111/j.1465-7287.1994.tb00424.xPowell-Griner, E., & Trent, K. (
1987
). Sociodemographic Determinants of Abortion in the United States
. Demography
, 24
, 553
–61
. 10.2307/2061391Rogers, J.L., Boruch, R.F., Starns, G.B., & Demoya, D. (
1991
). Impact of the Minnesota Parental Notification Law on Abortion and Birth
. American Journal of Public Health
, 81
, 294
–98
. 10.2105/AJPH.81.3.294Shelton, J., Brann, E.A., & Shultz, K.F. (
1976
). Abortion Utilization: Does Travel Distance Matter?
. Family Planning Perspectives
, 8
, 260
–64
. 10.2307/2134397Stimson, J.S. (
1985
). Regression in Space and Time
. American Journal of Political Science
, 29
, 914
–47
. 10.2307/2111187Wetstein, M.E. (
1995
). The Abortion Paradox: The Impact of National Policy Change on Abortion Rates
. Social Science Quarterly
, 76
, 607
–18
.© Population Association of America 1996
1996
Issue Section:
Fertility and Contraception