Grembi, VeronicaBertoli, PaolaLlaneza, CatalinaVall Castelló, Judit2021-03-232023-11-302020-110277-9536https://hdl.handle.net/2445/175638Using data from Spain, we show the impact of significant health-sector budget cuts introduced in 2012 on the rates of cesarean sections and on infant health outcomes at birth, which we use as a proxy for the quality of birth centers. Exploiting a difference-in-differences fixed-effects approach at the hospital level, we estimate a 3% increase in C-sections as a result of the budget restrictions, with no significant consequences on health outcomes at birth. Given the additional evidence in the literature on the negative short- and long-term effects of non-medically indicated C-sections, our paper provides important policy implications for population health.application/pdfengcc-by-nc-nd (c) Elsevier Ltd, 2020http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/esCrisis econòmiquesPolítica d'austeritatSalut públicaInfantsDèficit públicDepressionsAusterity policyPublic healthChildrenBudget deficitsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article7094842021-03-23info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess