Title: First do no harm?
Description: "We examine the impact of tort reforms using U.S.  birth records for 1989-2001.  We make four contributions: First, we develop a model that analyzes the incentives created by specific tort reforms.  Second, we assemble new data on tort reform.  Third, we examine a range of outcomes.  Finally, we allow for differential effects by demographic/risk group.  We find that reforms of the "deep pockets rule" reduce complications of labor and C-sections, while caps on noneconomic damages increase them.  Our results demonstrate there are important interactions between incentives created by tort law and other incentives facing physicians"--National Bureau of Economic Research web site.