Economics
The effect of violent crime on teenage pregnancy in Mexico
Document Type
Article
Abstract
This paper explores the effect of violent crime on teenage pregnancy in Mexico using data from a nationally representative longitudinal survey conducted before and after an unexpected surge in violence. In order to identify the effects, we use a triple difference-in-differences strategy exploiting variation in (i) exposure to the surge in violence between sample periods, (ii) the intensity of violence as measured by municipal homicide rates, and (iii) age of different cohorts. We find that the average increase in homicide rates over the study period reduced the probability of teenage pregnancy by approximately 1.5%. We also demonstrate that the effect is more acute among women with worse economic conditions prior to the surge in violence. Analysis of mechanisms shows that reductions in teenage pregnancy is partly explained by changes in the sexual behavior of young women.
Publication Title
Review of Economics of the Household
Publication Date
3-2020
Volume
18
Issue
1
First Page
141
Last Page
164
ISSN
1569-5239
DOI
10.1007/s11150-018-9430-4
Keywords
difference-in-differences, Mexico, teenage pregnancy, violent crime
Repository Citation
Tsaneva, Magda and Gunes, Pinar Mine, "The effect of violent crime on teenage pregnancy in Mexico" (2020). Economics. 209.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_economics/209
