Research

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Wind Turbine Proximity and Health: Longitudinal Evidence from U.S. Households
(PNAS, 2026, with Douglas Almond & Osea Giuntella)

Rapid growth of wind energy plays a key role in global efforts to reduce carbon emissions, yet public concerns persist about its potential health effects, particularly through noise exposure. While some studies and media reports suggest that wind turbines may contribute to sleep disturbances, anxiety, and even suicide, existing evidence remains limited and inconclusive. This study combines geolocated data on turbines from the US Wind Turbine Database with longitudinal survey data on over 120,000 households (2011–2023) and consumer purchasing records to assess whether proximity to wind turbines affects mental and physical health. We examine a wide range of outcomes, including depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, headaches, and use of sleep aids and painkillers. Comparing households before and after nearby turbine installations, we find no detectable adverse health effects from turbine exposure at typical exposure distances. While we cannot rule out small effects, our CIs exclude moderate-to-large impacts, suggesting that fears about substantial health impacts are not borne out in population-level data. Other disamenities such as noise, shadow flicker, and visual intrusion may still affect quality of life even absent measurable health impacts.

Featured in:
Der Standard (Austria), “Schaden Windparks der Gesundheit von Menschen in der Nachbarschaft?” (May 2026)
Der Spiegel (Germany), "Windräder beeinträchtigen die Gesundheit nicht nachweisbar" (June 2026)
DIE WELT (Germany), "Krank durch Windräder – Das ist wirklich dran an den Vorwürfen" (June 2026)

Working Papers
Latest version linked where publicly available. Feel free to email me for other drafts.

Cleaning Up the Record? PHI Entry and Anticipatory Behavior
(with Robert Nuscheler)

We study whether individuals strategically adjust health behaviour and healthcare utilization in anticipation of switching from Germany’s community-rated statutory health insurance to the risk-rated private health insurance system. Using longitudinal data from the German Socio-Economic Panel and an event-study design, we distinguish between health dimensions that are likely to be used in underwriting and those that are not. We find no evidence of changes in self-reported health or other unobservable behaviours around the switch. By contrast, doctor visits, hospitalizations, and sick-leave days decline sharply in the years immediately preceding entry into private insurance and remain at lower levels thereafter. These findings suggest that individuals attempt to signal a favourable risk profile prior to switching, revealing a previously overlooked behavioural margin in Germany’s dual insurance system.

Beyond the Benefits: Early Childcare Expansion and Maternal Health in Germany
(with Marina Krauss)

This paper studies the effects of early childcare availability on maternal health by exploiting variation following a major reform in Germany. Linking county-level childcare coverage rates with individual data from the German Socio-Economic Panel, we find that a 10-percentage-point increase in childcare availability reduces mothers’ self-assessed health by 0.173 points (19% of a SD). Further analyses show negative effects on maternal physical and mental health, and satisfaction with health. Investigating channels, we find evidence consistent with infection transmission and employment-related stress, including declines in work and leisure satisfaction. Notably, partners’ health remains unaffected, leading to a widening health gap within households.

Work in Progress

Maternal Patience and Breastfeeding (with Joan Costa-Font & Sarah Zaccagni)
When Care Reforms Spill Over: Regional Effects in Acute Care
Rental Markets and Residents' Health
Public Holidays and Health

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