THE EFFECT OF SOCIAL POLICIES ON TEENAGE PREGNANCY AND CHILDBEARING

The services and incentives provided by social policies significantly affect teenage pregnancy and child-bearing outcomes. Policies that off er tangible family-planning services and that improve access to and af fordability of abortion have stronger, more consistent effects on teen age sexual behavior than do those that focus on changing personal atti tudes and values. Higher welfare benefits may provide an incentive for pregnant teenagers to forgo marriage. Policies that improve teenagers ' educational and earnings opportunities appear to contribute indirect ly toward reducing teenage pregnancy and childbearing. This effect lik ely arises because better economic prospects lead teenagers to believe that they have something to lose by becoming parents, thus motivating them to defer having children.