Over The Counter Birth Control

Posted: 6/19/2019

The Cato Institute just came out with a paper titled “Over-The-Counter Birth Control? Bring It On” (published 6/13/19). Sounds enticing to any classical liberal without looking at the details. Unfortunately, the author, i.e.  Jeffrey A. Singer (Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute), is very naive and simplistic in his approach like a typical libertarian!

Of course, paternalism is to be reduced, women would have easier and more convenient access, and lower prices for contraceptives if over the counter becomes reality. The arguments in favor of over the counter are clearly winning!

However, the author of this article completely ignores to address the litigious situation in the U.S. If women become pregnant despite taking over the counter contraceptives, who will pay for the litigation and damages? Probably not Mr. Singer!

P.S.

I have recently blogged about the decline of the Cato Institute here.