Working Papers

Measuring the Income Elasticity of Online and Onsite Casino with Mark Nichols

Abstract: Several states across the United States in the past decade have started to legalize fully online casinos. This paper is the first to measure the income elasticity of this novel tax base. Panel model estimators were used to capture the long-run and short-run income elasticities to measure the growth potential and volatility of this tax base. Income elasticities were also measured for onsite gaming revenues in the pre-COVID and post-COVID periods to determine if there were any changes in the long or short- run elasticities of this tax base. This paper also uses a difference-in-difference model to see if the implementation of online gaming changes the growth rate of onsite gaming revenues relative to states that have never legalized online gambling.

Rent Inflation and Health Insurance Choice Among Renters

Abstract: This paper examines whether rent inflation affects individual renters’ health insurance coverage. The motivation of this paper is to examine whether rising housing costs may force households to reallocate limited financial resources, potentially leading individuals to drop or switch health insurance coverage. Using data from the American Community Survey (ACS) and the Household Pulse Survey (HPS) covering 2022–2024, I estimate reduced-form linear probability models of the likelihood that individuals are covered by employer-sponsored, purchased, or government health insurance, or are uninsured. Using the ACS data, I estimate that rent inflation may lead to higher rates of individuals being insured, higher probabilities of being on employer-based insurance, and lower probabilities of being on Medicaid insurance. Due to issues with geographic identifiers, the results from the HPS data are less consistent. 

Work In Progress

How the 2025 Canadian Tariffs Impacted the California Wine Industry

Abstract: The wine industry is a major employer in several California counties. This paper examines the short-run labor market effects of Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on U.S. wine imports. Using county-industry employment, establishment, and wage data, I estimate the effects of the tariff shock with difference-in-differences and event-study methods.