Cavallini, Flavia 2024 I analyze the effect of local unemployment rates on fertility rates, abortion rates, and the abortions to pregnancies ratio, combining population statistics and administrative data on induced abortions performed in Italy between 2004 and 2016. Using a shift-share instrument measuring labor demand, I exploit demand-driven shocks to unemployment. The findings indicate that both childbearing and abortions behave pro-cyclically, thus suggesting that changes in fertility rates arise not just from changes in planned pregnancy but also from a higher incidence of abortions. These effects are driven by women above 25 years old, and are particularly large in the 35–49 age group, while younger women are largely unaffected. application/pdf https://localhost:5000/ark:/12658/srd1331137 https://susi.usi.ch/global/documents/331137 https://susi.usi.ch/documents/331137/files/Cavallini_2024_Elsevier_Labour Eco_Not the right time.pdf eng info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/doi/10.1016/j.labeco.2023.102492 info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/ark/12658/srd1331137 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess CC BY Labour Economics. - 2024, vol. 87, p. 102492 Fertility choice Abortion ratio Local economic conditions Unemployment rate Shift-share info:eu-repo/classification/udc/33 Not the right time for children : unemployment, fertility, and abortion http://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_6501