MORE POWER TO THE PILL: THE IMPACT OF CONTRACEPTIVE FREEDOM ON WOMEN'S LIFE CYCLE LABOR SUPPLY

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Economics
• Sociology

Background:

• The 1960 introduction of Enovid, the first oral contraceptive pill, marked a significant shift in reproductive autonomy for U.S. women.
• This innovation offered unprecedented opportunities for women to plan childbearing and pursue career goals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To causally evaluate the impact of the birth control pill on women's life choices.
• To assess the pill's effect on the timing of first births and women's engagement in the labor force.

Main Methods:

• Utilized state-specific consent laws as a source of plausibly exogenous variation.
• Employed econometric methods to analyze the causal relationship between pill access and demographic/economic outcomes.

Main Results:

• Legal access to the pill before age 21 significantly decreased the probability of a first birth before age 22.
• The pill's availability was associated with a notable increase in women's participation in the paid labor force.
• Increased access to the pill correlated with a higher number of annual hours worked by women.

Conclusions:

• The birth control pill played a crucial role in empowering women to control fertility and enhance career trajectories.
• Early and legal access to oral contraceptives demonstrably influenced women's decisions regarding childbirth and labor market participation.