The Impact of Reproductive and Birth Technologies on Health, Fertility and Labor Outcomes

Abstract

Access to reproductive health including care during pregnancy and childbirth is paramount for mothers, children and families worldwide. Despite the rapid use of reproductive and birth technologies, multiple questions regarding the impact of this technological advancement still remain. This thesis addresses these issues by focusing on the causal and long-term effects including health indicators, fertility outcomes, female empowerment and labor market outcomes. In the first chapter, I study the causal impacts of planned Cesarean section for high risk births on health, future fertility and labor market responses. In the second chapter, we examine the passage of a reform to in-vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures, mandating single embryo transfer as default. In the last chapter, we study the effect from abortion legalization in Mexico City on fertility, contraceptive use and female empowerment.