Research Papers

Publications:


"The Effect of Tobacco Policies on Youth Physical Activity", with Karen Conway. Economics and Human Biology, Volume 38, August 2020, Article 100872.  


Abstract: Our research examines the effects of tobacco policies on teenagers’ physical activity. Smoking and physical activity are both strategies for weight management, and exercise may be a way to reduce some of the ill effects of smoking. These different links suggest that cigarette taxes could either increase or decrease physical activity. We explore this relationship using repeated cross-sectional 1991-2017 data from the national and state Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), combined with state-level policies and controls. Our smoking participation results confirm past work; cigarette taxes have a negative effect on smoking that has waned in recent years. The estimated effects of cigarette taxes on physical activity echo those of smoking; cigarette taxes decrease physical activity and, like smoking, these effects have waned recently. However, one likely avenue - sports participation - is unaffected. These results suggest that increased cigarette taxes lead to modest declines in teen physical activity, a finding consistent with youth using exercise to compensate for the health effects of smoking.

Working Papers:

"Vaping Regulations & Mental Health of Teenagers" with Chandrayee Chatterjee

"Body Image Concerns, Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors in Teenagers and the Role of Tobacco Policy"

“Disparate Human Capital Productivity Loss in the COVID-19 Pandemic” with Miesha Williams


Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic led to detrimental, terminal, and disparate health outcomes across workers in the United States. It is likely that loss in human capital can still be felt today.  Insofar as productivity loss can be measured for developing nations using the "Brain Drain" framework, this study will analogously estimate the human capital loss associated with the pre and post COVID-19 labor market in the United States. Using individual level data from IPUMS merged with aggregate macro data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis, and CDC death rates we measure human capital loss exclusively comparing 2019 and 2022 labor markets.  We find that the negative impact of labor market erosion in the pandemic could have exacerbated existing racial inequalities in human capital as composition of the labor market has changed. 

“Cannabis Policies and Birth Outcomes in the United States”, with Marian Jarlenski and Sabnum Pudasainy (manuscript in preparation)

Co-Investigator on this research supported by National Institute of Health (NIH)- R01 DA045675 (currently in no-cost extension). 

Work in Progress:

“Changes in Cigarette Smoking and Electronic Nicotine Delivery System Use After the Affordable Care Act: A Longitudinal Evaluation Using the US PATH Study Cohort”, with Marian Jarlenski, Nia Mubanga and Sabik M. Lindsay (manuscript in preparation)

Menstrual Equity Laws and Adolescent Health Outcomes (manuscript in preparation)