RESEARCH INTERESTS
Health Economics, Public Economics, Labor Economics
PUBLICATION
"Can Technology Really Help to Reduce Underage Drinking? New Evidence on the Effects of False ID Laws with Scanner Provisions" (forthcoming at Journal of Health Economics) [Pre-publication version]
Abstract: In Volume 36 of this journal, Yoruk (2014) uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and finds that false ID laws with scanner provisions have large impacts on binge drinking participation, frequency of alcohol consumption and binge drinking frequency among minors. This paper reexamines how false ID laws with scanner provisions affect underage drinking. I first demonstrate that analyses based on NLSY97 data fail falsification exercises testing for significant pre-intervention effects, and that the estimated effects based on these data are highly sensitive to the inclusion of a lead term and to sample selection, which weakens confidence in the large estimated effects reported in Yoruk (2014). I then use data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to show that false ID laws with scanner provisions have no effect on underage drinking behavior.
WORKING PAPERS
"New Evidence on the Local Fiscal Multiplier and Employment from Military Construction Spending"
Abstract: Taking advantage of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, this paper considers the effects of government spending on local economic conditions. Exploiting variation in the timing and amount of construction funding across counties, my analyses yield an estimated cost per job of $65,000 per year and a local fiscal multiplier of 1.21. Industry-specific analyses reveal especially large effects on the construction industry. Analyses of neighboring counties show little evidence of spillover effects. To further explore the mechanisms, I investigate the effects of government spending on migration and provide evidence that the funding has positive effects on in-migration, but no effects on out-migration. However, the effects on migration are too small to explain the main results.
WORK IN PROGRESS
"Better Economy, More Babies? New Evidence on the Effects of Economic Condition on Childbearing", with Jason Lindo
"The Health Returns to Higher Education: Evidence from the Post-9/11 GI Bill" with Andrew Barr and Alexander Smith
Health Economics, Public Economics, Labor Economics
PUBLICATION
"Can Technology Really Help to Reduce Underage Drinking? New Evidence on the Effects of False ID Laws with Scanner Provisions" (forthcoming at Journal of Health Economics) [Pre-publication version]
Abstract: In Volume 36 of this journal, Yoruk (2014) uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 and finds that false ID laws with scanner provisions have large impacts on binge drinking participation, frequency of alcohol consumption and binge drinking frequency among minors. This paper reexamines how false ID laws with scanner provisions affect underage drinking. I first demonstrate that analyses based on NLSY97 data fail falsification exercises testing for significant pre-intervention effects, and that the estimated effects based on these data are highly sensitive to the inclusion of a lead term and to sample selection, which weakens confidence in the large estimated effects reported in Yoruk (2014). I then use data from the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to show that false ID laws with scanner provisions have no effect on underage drinking behavior.
WORKING PAPERS
"New Evidence on the Local Fiscal Multiplier and Employment from Military Construction Spending"
Abstract: Taking advantage of the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure process, this paper considers the effects of government spending on local economic conditions. Exploiting variation in the timing and amount of construction funding across counties, my analyses yield an estimated cost per job of $65,000 per year and a local fiscal multiplier of 1.21. Industry-specific analyses reveal especially large effects on the construction industry. Analyses of neighboring counties show little evidence of spillover effects. To further explore the mechanisms, I investigate the effects of government spending on migration and provide evidence that the funding has positive effects on in-migration, but no effects on out-migration. However, the effects on migration are too small to explain the main results.
WORK IN PROGRESS
"Better Economy, More Babies? New Evidence on the Effects of Economic Condition on Childbearing", with Jason Lindo
"The Health Returns to Higher Education: Evidence from the Post-9/11 GI Bill" with Andrew Barr and Alexander Smith