Research & Projects

Working Papers 

“Fracking Boom and Respiratory Health: Evidence from Texas” (Job Market Paper) (Completed, Slides available on request)

Abstract: This paper investigates the impact of fracking (shale oil and gas) on respiratory health conditions, using data from Texas and a continuous difference-in-difference design. I find that compared to a county with the 25th percentile of the reserves and comparing post to pre fracking periods, a county with the 75th percentile of the reserves has 0.76 (5.31) more asthma (general respiratory disease) hospitalizations per 100,000 residents, which is a 0.82% (0.55%) increase compared to the average. These impacts are the largest for children and teenage. By back-of-envelop calculation, the fracking boom brought approximately 15,000 extra asthma hospitalizations and 103,000 extra respiratory disease hospitalizations to fracking counties in Texas between 2005 and 2014. I explore three channels to explain the mechanisms of these findings: migration, air pollution, and water pollution. Air and water pollution channels are consistent with the health impact, while migration is not.

"Measuring the Co-benefits of Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) Technology" (Joint with Andrew Waxman and Sheila Olmstead) (Completed, Draft/Slides available on request)

Abstract: This project uses a regression discontinuity design to measure the effects of carbon capture, utilization and storage technology on the local air quality. We find little evidence that the current 5 carbon capture facilities have brought positive impacts to air quality of the local communities.

"The Incidence of “Pink Taxes”: Evidence from the Elimination of State Sales Taxes on Feminine Hygiene Products” (Joint with Justin Ross, Shuangyu Chen, and Lanjun Peng) (Draft/Slides available on request)

Working in Progress

"Pay Transparency and Firms' Job Posting Behaviors: Evidence from the U.S. Equal Pay Transparency Laws" 

Abstract: Since 2021, a couple of states passed laws that request the disclosure of salary range on job postings. This project examines the casual impacts of these laws on firms’ job posting behaviors. I scraped a unique dataset from Indeed websites’ job postings. This dataset records job postings of the 25 most common jobs appeared on Indeed, including both blue-collar jobs and white-collar jobs. The preliminary results show that these laws increase the share of online job postings from about 40% to 98% and slightly increase the accuracy of salary information given in the job postings.

"Long-term Trends in Healthcare Cost and Utilization after Treatment of Major Depression Disorder: A Longitudinal Cohort Study" (Joint with Anton L.V. Avanceña and Hanwen Zhang)

"The Impacts of Naloxone Access Laws on Self-reported Pain Reliever Overdose Behaviors"  (Joint with Linqi Zhang)