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Research ArticleArticles

Is the Marginal Child More Likely to be Murdered?

An Examination of State Abortion Ratios and Infant Homicide

David E. Kalist and Noelle A. Molinari
Journal of Human Resources, July 2006, 41 (3) 611-630; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3368/jhr.41.3.611
David E. Kalist
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Noelle A. Molinari
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Abstract

We examine whether abortion removes from the population those infants most at risk of homicide. As part of our identification strategy, we find that abortion reduces the number of unwanted births, estimating that 1 percent increase in the abortion ratio reduces unwanted births by approximately 0.35 percent. Using cross-sectional time-series data for U.S. states between 1970 and 1998, we find that an increase in the abortion ratio (a proxy for unwanted births) reduces the expected number of infant homicides, especially among black infants. Overall, the elasticity of infant homicides with respect to unwanted births is approximately 0.089.

  • Received March 2005.
  • Accepted October 2005.

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Journal of Human Resources
Vol. 41, Issue 3
1 Jul 2006
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Is the Marginal Child More Likely to be Murdered?
David E. Kalist, Noelle A. Molinari
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2006, 41 (3) 611-630; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.41.3.611

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Is the Marginal Child More Likely to be Murdered?
David E. Kalist, Noelle A. Molinari
Journal of Human Resources Jul 2006, 41 (3) 611-630; DOI: 10.3368/jhr.41.3.611
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