Effects of public opinion on abortion policies and use in the American states

A central feature of democratic theory is substantial public control over the shape of public policies. Recent research on public opinion bolsters the connection between public preferences and policies enacted in the American states. Yet, the next logical connection-that of policy and public behavior-is often omitted in the research. Ideally preferences should influence policy, and policy should influence public behavior. This study examines the hypothesis that public opinion influences abortion policies, and that public opinion and public policy both influence rates of abortion utilization by state publics. The findings suggest that public preferences have profound effects on the contours of abortion policy and access to abortion providers. There are equally significant links to abortion use, even when controlling for socioeconomic factors and religious orientations in the stares.