Working Papers
(Job Market Paper, with Somdeepa Das) [pdf]
Abstract: We examine the impact of local alcohol availability on traffic accidents, leveraging plausibly exogenous variation in local alcohol policies in Texas. More than 300 cities in Texas voted to legalize alcohol sales between 2003 and 2019, and the passage of these so-called “wet laws” led to a sizable increase in liquor establishments and sales. Despite this increase, we do not find evidence of a corresponding rise in overall traffic crashes, especially those involving alcohol or resulting in fatalities. We also find that the increase in liquor establishments is primarily driven by off-premise retailers rather than on-premise bars and restaurants, and provide evidence that off-premise outlets are less related to alcohol-impaired traffic incidents. Moreover, we find no evidence of spatial spillovers across cities—whether a city passes the election appears to have no significant effect on the outcomes of nearby cities.
Abstract: This paper estimates the effect of spreading out SNAP disbursement dates within a month on alcohol purchase patterns and alcohol-related fatal accidents. I find that distributing SNAP disbursement days more evenly helps households reduce their consumption of various types of alcohol and the associated alcohol-related fatal accidents, particularly during the newly added disbursement days in the middle of the month. Building on prior research on the relationship between government benefits and household consumption, my results show that shifts in the SNAP disbursement schedule meaningfully affect household purchasing behavior, including purchases of ineligible products, with broader consequences for public health and safety.
Work in Progress
Hunting, Drinking, and Driving: Seasonal Variation in Road Safety
(with Jillian B. Carr, Ran Fang)
Abstract: This project investigates whether hunting season contributes to increased traffic accidents in the United States. Hunting season is a period of heightened outdoor recreation, often accompanied by social drinking traditions in rural communities. Using geographic fatal crash records and state-defined hunting calendars, we examine whether motor vehicle accidents rise during hunting season relative to non-hunting periods. By linking wildlife management boundaries with roadway crash data, this study sheds light on the unintended public safety externalities of hunting season. The results inform discussions on driving, community safety, and the role of seasonal activities in traffic accidents.