Publication

Bazak YL, Sander B, Werker E, et al The economic impact of international travel measures used during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review. BMJ Global Health 2024;9:e013900.

Working Papers

"The Long-term Impact of Early Childhood Access to Community Health Workers: Evidence From China’s Barefoot Doctors" (Job Market Paper)

Abstract: This paper studies the impact of China's Barefoot Doctors, one of the earliest Community Health Worker projects globally, initiated in 1969. Utilizing a unique county-level dataset from historical gazetteers, this study reveals that increased exposure to Barefoot Doctors in utero and during early childhood phases significantly reduced infant and under-5 mortality rates in the short term. Furthermore, it highlights long-term benefits, such as improved self-reported health, boosted educational attainment, and increased working hours, observed four decades post-program. The paper also explores underlying mechanisms and find evidence consistent with prolonged breastfeeding and enhanced prenatal care playing an important role.

"The Cultural Revolution, Railways, and the Spread of Epidemic Meningitis" (email for draft)

Abstract: The epidemic meningitis in China between 1966 to 1968 infected over 3 million people and caused the deaths of more than 160 thousands. Anecdotal evidence shows that the Revolutionary Tour - a nationwide movement that encourages a large-scale population mobilization at the beginning of the Cultural Revolution, exacerbated the epidemic. Using data collected and digitized from historical gazetteers on the county-level epidemic meningitis cases, this paper empirically studies the impact of the Cultural Revolution on the outbreak of epidemic meningitis. I find that places closer to the railroads have significantly higher density of cases at the beginning of the epidemic in 1966. However, as the epidemic moves to the second stage, places that are further away from the railroads see more cases and deaths from the meningitis. An event that starts in the urban area eventually hurts the rural area the most.

"The Social Impacts of Covid-19 Border Measures: A Scoping Review of Existing Evidence" (with Kelley Lee, Catherine Worsnop, and Salta Zhumatova) 

Under review, Social Science and Medicine

"The effect of COVID-19 international travel measures on travel volume" (with Eric Werker and Beate Sander)

Works in Progress

"Attribution Bias and Gender Punishment Gap: Evidence from Mutual Fund Managers" (with Liyang Zhou) Slides

"COVID-19 International Travel Measures, Importation of New Variants, and Genomic Diversity Index " (with Zohaib Anwar, William Hsiao, Eric Werker, and Beate Sander) 

Other Research

Replication and Extension of  "Gendered Language on the Economics Job Market Rumors Forum" (Wu, 2018) : "Sex and Politics: Gendered Language on Poliscirumors.com" (with Jordan Bazak)