Select Publications
The Effects of School Shootings on Risky Behavior, Health and Human Capital (with Partha Deb) Published in the Journal of Population Economics
We examine the effect of school shootings on risky health behaviors, health, and human capital outcomes of exposed students as adults and on their migration during middle and high school and a few years beyond. We use shootings data compiled by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security along with 2003–2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to examine risky behaviors, health, and human capital outcomes, and the 2004–2018 American Community Survey to examine migration. We find that students exposed to school shootings experience declines in health and well-being, engage in more risky behaviors, and have worse education and labor market outcomes as young adults. There is no evidence of migration in response to school shootings.
The Impact of the State Innovation Models Initiative on Population Health (with Partha Deb & Hoda Nouri Khajavi) Published in Economics & Human Biology
In this paper, we examine the effects of the State Innovation Models Initiative (SIM) on population-level health status. SIM provided $250 million to six states in 2013 for broad delivery system reforms. We use data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for the years 2010–2016. Our sample is restricted to individuals ages 45 and older residing in 6 SIM and 15 control states. Treatment effects in a difference-in-difference design are estimated using a latent factor model for multiple indicators of health status. In addition to estimates for the primary sample, we obtain estimates for six subsamples based on strata of age, education, income, race and urban/rural status. We find that individuals in states that implemented SIM show significant improvements in health status. The effects of SIM are greater among older, Medicare eligible individuals, including those living in rural areas. The State Innovation Models Initiative, which provided financial incentives for states to implement health care delivery system reforms, led to population-level improvements in health status.
For more of my research, see my Google Scholar page.