Suicide, social integration and fertility rates

Abstract

We measure the association between rates of suicide and fertility in the United States using a panel of states from 1981 to 2005. We find a positive relationship between suicide and fertility rates, in contrast to previous empirical work from other countries that has reported a strong negative relationship between fertility and suicide. This suggests that differences in the health-care system and social safety net between the United States and Europe may influence the relationship between childbirth and suicide.

Notes

¹Andrés (2005) uses a panel of 15 European nations from 1970 to 1998. Neumayer (2003) uses larger panel of 68 nations with varied levels of economic development from 1980 to 1999.