|
Abstract:
|
This dissertation consists of three chapters on health economics , two of which focus on contraception and the third on vaccination . Chapter one examines the impact of state -level contraception insurance coverage mandates on women's fertility outcomes . It utilizes variation in mandated insurance coverage for contraception across states and over time to determine the causal impact of insurance coverage of contraception on fertility outcomes , specifically abortion rates and birth rates . State -level results indicate that a mandate decreases abortion rates by 6 % in the year of introduction and decreases birth rates by 3 % two years following introduction , with the magnitude of both effects remaining steady over the long run . Chapter two utilizes longitudinal data on varicella (chicken pox ) immunizations in order to estimate the causal effects of state -level school -entry and daycare -entry immunization mandates within the United States . We find significant causal effects of mandates upon vaccination rates among preschool children aged 19 -35 months ; these effects appear in the year of mandate adoption , peak two years after adoption , and show a minimal difference from the aggregate trend about six years after adoption . For a mandate enacted in 2000 , the model and estimates imply that roughly 20 % of the short -run increase in state -level immunization rates was caused by the mandate introduction . We find no evidence of differential effects for different socioeconomic groups . Combined with the previous cost -benefit analyses of the varicella vaccine , the estimates suggest that state -level mandates have been effective from an economic standpoint . Chapter three utilizes variations in access to emergency contraception (EC ) across states to determine the impact of over the counter access on abortion rates , birth rates , and risky sexual behavior . Using state -level data , a flexible time specification finds that giving individuals over the counter access to EC reduces births and increases risky behavior , which is captured by STD rates . These effects are larger for adults compared with teenagers , however , there are not significant differential effects by race . Finally , the effects are increasing over time following the legislation . |