Abortion Restrictions: Research Suggests Potential Economic and Household Effects of Recent State Changes

Research suggests that restrictions on abortion access can have economic implications for individuals who seek or are unable to obtain abortions, their families, and aspects of the economy more broadly. In June 2022, in its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs decision), the U.S. Supreme Court held that the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion. Since the 2022 decision, several states have taken actions to protect or restrict access to abortion. Questions have been raised about the potential economic effects of recent state actions restricting abortion, even as the state-level legal landscape regarding abortion continues to evolve.