Graduated driver licensing laws and teen abortion

Abstract

I exploit the implementation of state Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws in the U.S. to study the impact of increased restrictions on teen abortion rates. GDL laws introduce an intermediate phase in which first-time drivers between 15 and 17 years of age are subjected to increased parental supervision, nighttime curfews, and passenger restrictions prior to obtaining an unrestricted driver's license. Using a triple differences approach, this study finds that following the implementation of GDL, abortion rates among teenagers decreased by 3%. The effect is stronger in states where the nighttime curfew begins before 11 pm, with abortion rates dropping 14% relative to states with later curfews. I find no differential effect in states where the intermediate license phase lasts a longer period.