Research

Abstract: We utilize the phased rollout of COVID-19 vaccines by exact birth date in South Korea as a natural experiment for testing risk compensation. People may resume face-to-face social activities following vaccination because they perceive lower risk of infection. Applying a regression discontinuity design based on birth date cutoffs for vaccine eligibility, we find no evidence of risk-compensating behaviors, as measured by large, high-frequency data from credit card and airline companies as well as survey data. We find some evidence of self-selection into vaccine take-up based on perception toward vaccine effectiveness and side effects, but the treatment effects do not differ between compliers and never-takers.

Abstract: We examine the effect of job displacement on mortality, hospitalization, biomarkers, and health behaviors in South Korea. We find that the impact on health differs between severe and less severe outcomes and also by gender. Men experience little impact on mortality and hospitalization except for an increase in suicide deaths, whereas their biomarkers and health behaviors improve. Women experience an increase in mortality and hospitalization due to chronic diseases, but no significant effects on biomarkers or health behaviors. The study emphasizes the need to consider a comprehensive range of outcomes to accurately evaluate the effect of job loss on health.

Abstract: This paper examines the causal effect of children’s health screening results on their families, particularly whether child development warnings prompt early intervention and how they influence family dynamics. By exploiting a change in child development assessment tools within the Korean National Health Screening Program for Infants and Children, we estimate the impacts of screening results on several outcomes, including medical utilization, disability registration, parental labor supply, and subsequent fertility. Our findings reveal that developmental warnings significantly increase the probability of hospital visits for developmental disorders and the registration of disabilities over the following seven years. Additionally, these signals decrease maternal employment probability by 3.5-4.5% during this period, while paternal employment remains largely unaffected.