Red states are driving women away with severe abortion bans: new report

Fewer women are moving to red states with severe abortion restrictions, and that poses risks for some state economies, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

The report analyzed the findings of 55 different studies about the impact of state-level abortion bans following the 2022 Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The Dobbs decision overturned the Roe v. Wade precedent, which protected a woman's right to receive an abortion.

One study found that states with abortion bans saw their populations decrease by 4.3 per 10,000 people. Another study concluded that women with at least a college education were 7 percent less likely to live in states with abortion bans than in states that do not restrict access to the procedure. That change was consistent for women aged 20 to 50.

The GAO report also found that women in states with abortion bans faced worse financial outcomes than women in states that do not restrict or prohibit abortions. For instance, the report found that women in states with abortion bans were more likely to receive public benefits like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

“This report confirms what women have known for centuries," Rep. Robert Scott (D-VA), ranking member of the House Committee on Education and Workforce, who requested the GAO report, said in a statement. "A woman’s ability to determine how and when she starts a family is directly tied to her economic security. When women have access to full reproductive health care, they are more likely to pursue higher education, join the workforce, and avoid financial distress."