Abortion and Crime, Revisited (Update)
This episode appears to contain dynamically inserted ads. Transcript timestamps may be approximate.
With abortion on the Nov. 5 ballot, we look back at Steve Levitt’s controversial research about an unintended consequence of Roe v. Wade.
- SOURCES:
- John Donohue, professor of law at Stanford Law School.
- Steve Levitt, professor emeritus of economics at the University of Chicago and host of People I (Mostly) Admire.
- Jessica Wolpaw Reyes, professor of economics at Amherst College.
- RESOURCES:
- “The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime Over the Last Two Decades,” by John J. Donohue and Steven D. Levitt (The National Bureau of Economic Research, 2019).
- “The Demise of the Death Penalty in Connecticut,” by John J. Donohue (Stanford Law School Legal Aggregate, 2016).
- “Environmental Policy as Social Policy? The Impact of Childhood Lead Exposure on Crime,” by Jessica Wolpaw Reyes (The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 2007).
- “The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime,” by John J. Donohue and Steven D. Levitt (The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2001).
- “State Abortion Rates: The Impact of Policies, Providers, Politics, Demographics, and Economic Environment,” by Rebecca M. Blank, Christine C. George, and Rebecca A. London (The National Bureau of Economic Research, 1994).
- EXTRAS:
- "John Donohue: 'I’m Frequently Called a Treasonous Enemy of the Constitution,'" by People I (Mostly) Admire (2021).
Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
For economic trade, you're sponsored by Pacific Life Insurance. From pinkie swears to I do, you make promises throughout your life. For nearly 160 years, Pacific Life has been helping you keep them by protecting those who matter most. Pacific Life, the power of a promise. Ask a financial professional how Pacific Life can help you create a more confident financial future. Pacific Life Insurance Company, Omaha, Nebraska, and in New York, Pacific Life and Inuity, Phoenix, Arizona. Freakonomics Radio is sponsored by PNC Bank, boring, great word, bad rep, yet time and time again here at Freakonomics we find that when something culture-changing happens, boring things like calculations and careful planning are usually behind it. Which begs the question, why not apply it to other aspects of life, like banking, for example? PNC Bank did since its inception, proving time and again that the best banking strategy isn't the exciting type, but the steady, reliable, definitely not YOLO type. PNC Bank, brilliantly boring since 1865. Brilliantly boring since 1865 is a registered mark of the PNC Financial Services Group, Inc., PNC Bank National Association, member FDIC. Freakonomics Radio is sponsored by Hotels.com. Hotels.com helps you find and book the right stay for work faster. With business preferences, save your travel must-haves like gym access or breakfast, just once then get tailored results whenever you search for work travel. Plus, with a free membership, you can save up to 20% on hotels and earn rewards on every stay for future travel. Click now at Hotels.com, visit Hotels.com for details. Freakonomics Radio is sponsored by Mint Mobile. With Mint Mobile's summer sale, all of Mint's plans are $15 per month, even unlimited. The free yourself from big wireless and switch to Mint for high-speed data and coverage on the T-Mobile 5G network. To get your new wireless plan for just $15 a month, go to mintmobile.com/freak. That's mintmobile.com/freak. Upfront payment, $45 for three months, $90 for six months, or $180 for 12 months. Plan required, $15 per month equivalent. Taxes and fees extra initial plan term only. Greater than 50 gigabytes may slow when network is busy, includes up to 20 gigabytes hotspot. Be capable device required, availability, speed and coverage varies, see Mint Mobile.com. Hey there, it's Stephen Dunder. Two years ago, the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. The court's 1973 ruling made abortion legal throughout the US. With this new ruling, the legality of abortion was kicked back to the states. Since then, 13 states have banned abortion and eight others have imposed more limited restrictions. This election day, November 5, voters everywhere will be choosing a president and the voters in 10 states will also be considering ballot measures that aim to protect abortion access. Kamala Harris has said that if she becomes president, she would sign a bill to once again make abortion legal nationwide. Donald Trump's position is less clear. Harris says that Trump would sign a national abortion ban, but Trump has denied this and said the issue should be left to the states. Whatever the outcomes on election day, the fact is that abortion laws in the US are in
Transcription truncated.
With abortion on the Nov. 5 ballot, we look back at Steve Levitt’s controversial research about an unintended consequence of Roe v. Wade.