Access to abortion and contraception is key to bodily autonomy and economic freedom.It enables people to make the decisions that are right for them and their financial security, leading to higher earnings, increased labor force participation, improved educational outcomes—among women, men, and children—and reduced poverty. Data show the states that more severely restrict access to abortion also do not have policies to support economic resilience or positive health and educational outcomes for families.
THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF CONTRACEPTION
Over 47 million American women aged 15-49 relied on contraceptives in 2017-2019. But people of color, lower-income individuals and those without insurance can face significant barriers to accessing affordable, reliable contraceptives.Contraceptives Have Been Key to Preventing Unplanned Pregnancies and Associated Economic Costs. This fact sheet highlights the economic impact of access to contraception. For example, every dollar spent on contraceptive services saves almost $6 of public spending through reducing unplanned pregnancies alone, and each year, public investments in contraception save $10.5 billion dollars
ABORTION ACCESS IS KEY TO ECONOMIC FREEDOM
Access to safe and legal abortion is an economic issue, not only an issue of bodily autonomy and individual agency. Access to abortion enables people to make the decisions that are right for them and their financial security. Furthermore, the ability to control if and when to have a child has lifelong economic consequences not only for the people directly impacted, but also their families and communities. Many states put unnecessary restrictions on women seeking abortions, restrictions that have no basis in medical science and imperil women’s health and well-being. These unnecessary restrictions cost local economies $105 billion per year. If these unnecessary restrictions were eliminated, U.S. GDP would be almost 0.5% higher.
STATES THAT MOST RESTRICT ACCESS TO ABORTION HAVE WORSE ECONOMIC CONDITIONS FOR FAMILIES
In states which have either completely banned or severely restricted abortion, women will be constrained from making decisions that are right for them, their families and their financial security. The ability to decide if and when to have a child has far-reaching economic consequences not only for the people directly impacted, but also their families and communities.
Unfortunately, the states that more severely restrict access to abortion also do not have policies to support economic resilience or positive health and educational outcomes for families. The data show that in states with more restrictive abortion laws:
- women have lower median earnings,
- child poverty rates are higher,
- health insurance for the neediest families is harder to access,
- paid family leave does not exist and
- spending on K-12 education is lower.
Although metrics such as median earnings, child poverty rates and access to health insurance can never provide a complete picture of people’s lived experiences, they do offer an indication of whether states are creating the conditions for children, women and families to thrive. These metrics suggest that in addition to failing to offer comprehensive reproductive health, the states that restrict access to abortion are not promoting community health and well-being.
