Abortion policy is controversial in many countries, although thankfully less so in the UK. However, a recent paper takes a different perspective, examining instead the financial impact of women seeking abortions but being denied them. Those denied an abortion were 81% more likely to face bankruptcies or evictions than before being denied an abortion, and 78% more likely to be in arrears on debt. Giving birth is of itself a cause of financial distress but the research shows it is greater for women denied an abortion, possibly highlighting the economic impact on women of being able to control the timing of when they give birth. The backdrop is that, in the US, twice as many abortion restrictions were enacted between 2011 and 2017 as the entire preceding decade.

Source: The Guardian January 26, 2020 00:00 UTC