Publications
Soobin Kim, Isak Kim, Gyujin Lee, Haewon Oh, & Orion Mowbray. (Forthcoming). "Social determinants and the role of school-based mental health services in adolescents' depressive symptoms and happiness". Health & Social Work
Sage Kim, Meredith Hollender, Andrew DeMott, Haewon Oh, Ishan Bhatia, Yochai Eisenberg, Michael Gelder, & Susan Hughes. “COVID-19 Cases and Deaths in Skilled Nursing Facilities in Cook County, Illinois.” Public Health Reports. 2022
Sunjeong Kim, Haewon Oh, Jongwook Chang, & Sang Jun Kim. “Recovery of Tendon Characteristics by Inhibition of Aberrant Differentiation of Tendon-Derived Stem Cells from Degenerative Tendinopathy.” International Journal of Molecular Science. 2020, 21, 2687.
Se-Jik Kim, Haewon Oh, & Syngjoo Choi. “Evaluating Information Campaigns to Reduce Food Waste: A Field Experiment.” Korean Economic Journal. Dec. 2017
Working Paper
Haewon Oh & Travis Alan Smith. “The Effects of Limiting Antidepressant Prescriptions in Non-Psychiatric Clinics on Suicide Thoughts and Attempts in South Korea.”- 2023 Summer Research Grant ($1,500), Graduate School, UGA. Under review. [draft]
South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the OECD, and in 2002, the Ministry of Health and Welfare implemented a policy restricting antidepressant prescriptions in non-psychiatric clinics to a 60-day limit to reduce misuse. Many patients with chronic, non-psychiatric illnesses, who often receive prescriptions from these clinics, have been particularly affected by these limitations. This study investigates how the policy impacted suicidal thoughts and attempts among chronically ill patients who may experience untreated depression. Using synthetic control methods, the analysis shows a significant increase in South Korea’s suicide rate following the policy, as compared to similar countries. In addition, a difference-in-differences approach reveals a 1.6 percentage point increase in suicide attempts among individuals with chronic diseases. The findings underscore how prescription limitations may have unintended consequences, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like divorced individuals, those with lower education, and higher-income patients.
Haewon Oh, Samyam Shrestha, & Travis Alan Smith. "Minimum Wage and SNAP Enrollment among Low-Wage Workers: Evidence from the U.S. Agricultural Sector." Under review. [draft]
Agricultural workers are among the lowest-paid workers in the United States, with many earning wages at or near the minimum wage. This paper examines the effects of minimum wage increases on their participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the largest federal initiative addressing food insecurity among low-income households. Using data from the 2005-16 American Community Survey, we find that a $1 increase in prevailing minimum wage increases SNAP participation among likely-eligible agricultural worker households by 1.4-1.6 percentage points on average. These gains are concentrated among households headed by Hispanic, immigrant, and non-managerial workers. Suggestive evidence indicates that these increases are driven by greater labor supply, enabling these groups to meet the minimum hours worked required to qualify for SNAP benefits.
Work in Progress
Haewon Oh, Xinyu Zeng, & Travis Alan Smith. "The Effect of the Economic Impact Payment on Consumption Behavior."
The COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 caused significant economic disruptions in the United States. To mitigate these impacts, the U.S. government enacted the CARES Act, providing three rounds of Economic Impact Payments (EIPs) between April 2020 and March 2021. While aimed at providing financial relief and stimulating consumer spending, concerns remain about how recipients utilized these funds. This study examines the effect of EIPs on spending behavior across detailed categories, including tobacco, alcohol, food at home, food away from home, housing, entertainment, education, and more. We also investigate the timing of changes in consumption behavior following the receipt of EIPs, providing insights into whether these payments met the government’s intended economic objectives. More importantly, this study analyses the long-term term effects of EIP after two years of the EIP distributed.
Shanjukta Nath, Juan Ferrer, Haewon Oh, Cesar Cancho, & Christina Wieser. "Social Norms, Conflict and Female Mobility in Afghanistan."