In this groundbreaking work on American public policy and human fertility control, policies and practices of the 70s, 80s, and 90s are reviewed and analyzed in each of the fifty states. Arguing that morality politics have helped make fertility policies contentious and complex, McFarlane and Meier conclude that current policies are inadequate for addressing unintended pregnancy and even contribute to high abortion rates. The authors offer alternative public policy designed to be more effective in the future.

1: Fertility Control Policy: A Theoretical Approach
Public Policy Classifications
Morality Policy
Fertility Control as Morality Policy
Fertility Control and Policy Adoption
The Likelihood of Policy Success

2. Contraception and Abortion: A Historical Overview
Fertility Control in Ancient Times
Fertility Control in the Middle Ages
Fertility Control in Modern Times

3. Family Planning Policies: An Intergovernmental Labyrinth
Chronology of Federal Family Planning Policies
The Mazmanian and Sabatier Model: Assessing Family Planning Policy

4. Abortion Policy
Supreme Court Decisions since Roe v. Wade
Recent Federal Developments in Abortion Policy
Likely Effectiveness of Federal Abortion Policy

5. State Fertility Control Policies
Family Planning
Abortion

6. The Outputs of Fertility Control Policie
Available Data
Statutory Coherence
Determinants of State Policy Outputs
Abortion Policy Restrictions

7. The Impact of Fertility Control Policies
Previous Studies of the Effects of Fertility Control Policies
Fertility Control Funding and Public Health Impacts
Impacts from Grants Control Policies

8. Conclusion
Policy Implementation over Time
Policy Recommendations
Symbolic Politics: Is There a Way Out?