Did Legalized Abortion Lower Crime?
Published Jun 1, 2001 · T. Joyce
The Journal of Human Resources
158
Citations
10
Influential Citations
Abstract
In this paper I compare changes in homicide and arrest rates among cohorts born before and after the legalization of abortion to changes in crime in the same years among similar cohorts who were unexposed to legalized abortion. I find little consistent evidence that the legalization of abortion in selected states around 1970, and then in the remaining states following Roe v. Wade, had an effect on recent crime rates. I conclude that the dramatic association as reported in a recent study is most likely the result of unmeasured period effects such as changes in crack cocaine use.
Study Snapshot
Key takeawayLegalized abortion in 1970s and 1980s states showed little consistent evidence of reducing crime rates, likely due to unmeasured factors like crack cocaine use.
PopulationOlder adults (50-71 years)
Sample size24
MethodsObservational
OutcomesBody Mass Index projections
ResultsSocial networks mitigate obesity in older groups.