Nick Mastronardi Research
IO, Game Theory, Politico-Economy
working papers
A Complete Characterization of Col Blotto Equilibrium (with Scott Macdonell) Revise and Resubmit at Economic Theory characterizes the complete set of equilibria to the Col Blotto game proves the completeness of the characterization applies the equilibria characterization algorithm to previously unsolved Col Blotto variations Campaign Expenditures, Bids in an Auction models candidates' campaign expenditures as bids earning a fraction of swing voters via advertising solves the continuous mixed-nash equilibrium expenditure strategies uses the predicted expenditure distribution moments and FEC data to estimate object value, a US House Seat BLP Estimation of Incumbency, Partisanship, and Expenditures on Vote Shares (with Kyle Kretschman) BLP discrete demand parameter estimation for voters choosing candidates uses district-level voter partisan registrations as source of discrete voter heterogeneity allows testing of common "vote production function" assumptions from reduced-form literature
Planned Future Research
Macro, Political-Micro Real Government Cycles Analysis of Income Distribution and Tax & Transfer Dynamics does there exist an income distribution and tax & transfer steady state? if so, is it stable and are we heading towards or away from it? do there exist 2+ period cyclical equilibria? if so, might we be caught in one?
IO, Econometrics Continuous Mixed-Nash Estimation: Rigorously Testing Predictions in Models with Continuous Mixed Strategy Equilibrium Testing Sufficient Moments in Finite-Moment Continuous Distribution Strategies Applying the Kolmogorov-Smirnov Estimator For General Mixed Strategies
International Finance, Econometrics Private Information Frictions in International Financial Markets quantify magnitude of moral hazard and adverse selection using financial positions estimate a system of simultaneous equations model as in Chiappori Salanie 03
Macro, International Finance, Diff Eqns Method of Variation of Parameters:
Analyzing Growth Paths for Emerging Nations Not Yet at Steady State
Christiano's method mostly suited for analyzing growth paths of nations near steady state linearizing and using method of undetermined coefficients not precise for emerging economies method of variation of parameters is general for difference/differential equations
Macro, Politico-Micro Tax & Transfer Treaties: The Outcomes of Political Proxy Wars Over Redistribution individual incomes (relative to the mean) imply apathy or contributions for or against redistribution parties aggregate resources of those sharing redistribution positions parties battle financially via advertising over previously apathetic pivotal swing voters altogether, first 3 central moments of income distribution explain bulk of tax & transfer progressivity original dissertation materials Dissertation Abstract dissertation slides:
Paper 1: IO, Game Theory, Politico-Economy, Econometrics
Campaign Expenditures, Bids in an All-Pay Auction A Finance Augmented Median-Voter-Model simplified theory, with empirical analysis Paper 2: Politico-Economy, IO, Econometrics The Vote Production Function: BLP Estimation of Incumbency, Partisanship, and Expenditures on Vote Shares
Paper 3: Game Theory Waging Simple Wars: A Complete Characterization of Col Blotto Equilibrium Stuff From Class
Public Finance II Consumption Price Elasticities with Impact on Optimal Commodity Taxation Heterogenous Demand Patterns (pdf) Calculation of Labor Supply Elasticities for Different Demographics with Impact on Payroll Taxation Overview of Deaton's Research on the Relationship Between Income Inequality and Health Inequality Analysis of the Progressivity of Different Components of US Tax and Transfer System USTax&TransferProgressivity.pdf Impact of Tax Reform Act of 1986 on Labor Supply of Married Women Use of Synthetic Cohorts to Test Permanent Income Hypothesis and Need for Social Security Do US Citizens of Different Demographics All Properly Save and Consumption Smooth? The only period that appears that US Citizens Don't Adequately Save for is Early Retirement Incorporating value of leisure we revisit this stage and whether it justifies the Social Security Program Last, we compare the welfare benefits of helping smooth over this stage and other events like illness RetirementConsumptionPuzzle.pdf Estimate magnitude of Private Information Frictions in Medicaid and Medicare Simultaneous Equations Model Yielding degree of Moral Hazard and Adverse Selection
Advanced Micro from Mechanism Design Econometrics III
Econometrics Seminar
some old stuff
Partisan Campaign Contributions
2YP rough draft |