After the Dobbs decision, the 13 states with strict abortion restrictions from Alabama to West Virginia collectively lost a net 36,000 residents per quarter, meaning that the number of people who left the state outnumbered those who left. The difference between Analysis from economists at the Georgia Institute of Technology and The College of Wooster and published this month by the National Bureau of Economic Research.
The analysis, based on change-of-address data from the U.S. Postal Service, found that the state effect is larger among single-person households, which may suggest that states with youth abortion bans are more likely than others. Going out at rate. compared to families. This may lead to greater challenges for families trying to move, given the need to change schools or uproot careers for parents.
A Problem for States Banning Abortion?
Although often framed as a cultural or religious issue, access to abortion also has far-reaching economic implications for both individuals and society. For example, the financial toll on women without access to abortion services has been well documented with the Turnaround Study. to search Those who refused the procedure had higher rates of financial distress and were more dependent on government assistance such as food stamps.
New research suggests that states with abortion bans may face long-term economic consequences if they lose significant numbers of residents — especially young workers who are typically part of the state’s workforce. But are important.
“In terms of implications for states’ economies, our findings suggest that employers in restrictive states may face challenges in attracting and retaining workers, particularly younger workers, who are likely to be affected by economic growth and can affect growth,” the researchers, Daniel L. Dench, Jason M. Lindo and Kelly Lufchase of the Georgia Institute of Technology, and Jency Ling Liu of The College of Wooster, wrote in an email to CBS MoneyWatch.
The study did not know whether those moving out of abortion-ban states were men or women, or where they landed, including in states that have protected abortion. But the effect is significant enough that states banning abortion could lose about 1 percent of their population over a five-year period, the researchers said.
Abortion bans and weak safety nets
Separately, many states with strict abortion bans fail to provide adequate safety nets, an Associated Press analysis found. I have found out. These range from difficulty accessing programs like food stamps to lack of access to doctors due to maternity care deserts. are
Republican state leaders in Tennessee — one of 13 states with outright abortion bans — argue that they are bolstering services for families. For example, Tennessee expanded Medicaid coverage for mothers from 60 days to one year in 2022, enabling an additional 3,000 mothers to use the program each year.
But Tennessee fared poorly, according to an Oct. study Published in the American Journal of Public Health. The analysis found that other states with abortion bans, including Alabama, Georgia and Missouri, ranked poorly on several measures.
According to one, in states where abortion is banned or limited to the early weeks of pregnancy, women with young children said it can be difficult to access social services. Survey By the Health Policy Research Organization KFF. About half said it was difficult for women in their state to get food stamps, for example, compared with 3 in 10 in states where abortion is generally available.
“Those who claim to be pro-life, who have advocated bans on abortion, often suggest that these policies are designed to protect children, women and families,” said Dr. Nigel Madden. . study. But the weakness in the safety net reveals “the hypocrisy of this argument.”
Meanwhile, many young Americans are paying attention to the state’s access to reproductive care. 2022 in Axios PollSix in 10 18- to 29-year-olds said a state’s abortion laws would influence their decision about where to live “somewhat” to “a lot.”
To be sure, there are many reasons why people choose to move out of a particular state, noted researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology and the College of Wooster. “And states banning abortion differ from states protecting or maintaining abortion access in ways other than their policies on abortion.”
But lack of access to reproductive choice, social services and medical care may make strict abortion states less attractive to some residents, especially young Americans, the study concluded.
Contributed to this report.