TY - JOUR
T1 - Transgender Transitioning and Responsiveness to Policy
T2 - Evidence from the Netherlands
AU - de Weerd, Elisa
AU - Cawley, John
AU - van Kippersluis, Hans
N1 - JEL Classification: J16, J18, K38
PY - 2024/5
Y1 - 2024/5
N2 - This study examines a 2014 policy change in the Netherlands that simplified the process to legally transition gender. Administrative data for 2006–2022 indicate that there was a 725 percent increase in transitions after the policy change, suggesting that legal gender transitions are elastic to costs and barriers. The policy change was followed by a ten-year reduction in the average age at transition and a reduction in the use of gender-affirming care in the three years prior to transitioning. This research sheds light on how policy changes can influence decisions related to gender transitioning and the use of gender-affirming care.
AB - This study examines a 2014 policy change in the Netherlands that simplified the process to legally transition gender. Administrative data for 2006–2022 indicate that there was a 725 percent increase in transitions after the policy change, suggesting that legal gender transitions are elastic to costs and barriers. The policy change was followed by a ten-year reduction in the average age at transition and a reduction in the use of gender-affirming care in the three years prior to transitioning. This research sheds light on how policy changes can influence decisions related to gender transitioning and the use of gender-affirming care.
U2 - 10.1257/pandp.20241120
DO - 10.1257/pandp.20241120
M3 - Article
VL - 114
SP - 364
EP - 368
JO - AEA Papers and Proceedings
JF - AEA Papers and Proceedings
ER -