Faculty Publications
The Effects Of Statutory Rape Laws On Nonmarital Teenage Childbearing
Document Type
Article
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Contemporary Economic Policy
Volume
24
Issue
1
First Page
35
Last Page
51
Abstract
Many policy makers view the enforcement of statutory rape laws as a way to reduce teenage childbirths. This article considers whether unmarried teenage girls covered by a state statutory rape law are less likely to give birth than girls who are not covered by a statutory rape law. The presence of statutory rape laws is negatively correlated with nonmarital birthrates for white females but is not a significant predictor for black or Hispanic females. In contrast, the enforcement of statutory rape laws has a deterrent effect on teen childbearing for blacks and Hispanics but not for whites. (JEL J13, K14). © Western Economic Association International 2005.
Department
Department of Economics
Original Publication Date
1-1-2006
DOI of published version
10.1093/cep/byj005
Recommended Citation
Jepsen, Christopher A. and Jepsen, Lisa K., "The Effects Of Statutory Rape Laws On Nonmarital Teenage Childbearing" (2006). Faculty Publications. 2873.
https://scholarworks.uni.edu/facpub/2873
