We’ve heard individual stories of the impact of Dobbs on reproductive care. But what do we know about the larger societal impact of bans and restrictions across the United States? Economist and Middlebury College Professor Caitlin Myers, creator of the Abortion Access Dashboard, is an expert in putting abortion data (literally) on the map. This week Bev and Jonas talk to Caitlin about applied microeconomics as a tool to understand how the increased burden of travel and other barriers to care affect people’s lives and wellbeing. 

In 2024, 155,000 people (approximately 15 percent of abortion seekers) traveled out of state for care, as part of an overall increase in yearly abortions in the United States since Dobbs. Professor Myers shares how an increase despite restrictions is possible. 

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