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on Health Economics |
| By: | Bloom, Nicholas (Stanford University); Dahl, Gordon B. (University of California, San Diego); Rooth, Dan-Olof (Swedish Institute for Social Research) |
| Abstract: | There has been a dramatic rise in disability employment in the US since the pandemic, a pattern mirrored in other countries as well. A similar increase is not found for any other major gender, race, age or education demographic. At the same time, work from home has risen four-fold. This paper asks whether the two are causally related. Analyzing CPS and ACS microdata, we find the increase in disability employment is concentrated in occupations with high levels of working from home. Controlling for compositional changes and labor market tightness, we estimate that a 1 percentage point increase in work from home increases full-time employment by 1.1% for individuals with a physical disability. A back of the envelope calculation reveals that the post pandemic increase in working from home explains 80% of the rise in full-time employment. Wage data suggests that WFH increased the supply of workers with a disability, likely by reducing commuting costs and enabling better control of working conditions. |
| Keywords: | disability employment; remote work |
| JEL: | J14 J20 |
| Date: | 2025–04–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hhs:sofile:2025_005 |
| By: | Nguyen, Lan; Connelly, Luke B.; Birch, Stephen; Nguyen, Ha Trong |
| Abstract: | This study investigates the medical condition of Australian children aged 4 to 14 years and the impact of prenatal and early-life conditions on these health conditions, using a large national data set (n=4, 122) with 15 years of follow-up. Consistent with the developmental origins of health and diseases hypothesis and the life-course models of health, the in-utero environment and parental financial hardship during pregnancy and shortly after birth play a significant role and have a lasting impact on the medical conditions of children. These significant effects are not reduced by controlling for child, family, and neighbourhood characteristics. The impact of improvements in family income when the child is aged 4 to 14 years does not compensate for the impact of health disadvantages in the prenatal and postnatal period. |
| Keywords: | Early Life Conditions, Child Development, Panel Data, Australia |
| JEL: | I14 J13 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1579 |
| By: | Matteucci, Nicola; Picchio, Matteo; Santolini, Raffaella; Yebetchou Tchounkeu, Rostand Arland |
| Abstract: | The growing ageing of the population in developed economies has necessitated the progressive use of advanced information and communication technologies (ICTs) for the home care of elderly individuals. The effect of these technologies on elderly health outcomes remains an open issue. In this study, we analyze the impact of telecare on the mortality rate of elderly people in Italy using data at the municipal level and a doubly robust difference-in-differences design. Our results show that telecare services significantly reduced the mortality rate of the elderly aged 65 and over by 1.7 individuals per 1, 000 inhabitants. This effect was sizeable, since it was a 4% decrease in the elderly mortality rate relatively to the average elderly mortality rate in the treated municipalities. The reduction in the elderly mortality rate was greater in municipalities with a large proportion of childless elderly people, suggesting that telecare may be particularly useful for the elderly who find it more difficult to rely on strong family ties. Moreover, it was stronger in small municipalities, indicating that telecare may be more effective where there is a greater need to compensate for a lower level of traditional social and health care services. |
| Keywords: | telecare, elderly, health, mortality rate, municipalities |
| JEL: | I10 I18 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1594 |
| By: | Marion Leroutier (CREST - Centre de Recherche en Économie et Statistique - ENSAI - Ecole Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Analyse de l'Information [Bruz] - X - École polytechnique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - ENSAE Paris - École Nationale de la Statistique et de l'Administration Économique - IP Paris - Institut Polytechnique de Paris - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique); Hélène Ollivier (PSE - Paris School of Economics - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement, PJSE - Paris Jourdan Sciences Economiques - UP1 - Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne - ENS-PSL - École normale supérieure - Paris - PSL - Université Paris Sciences et Lettres - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - ENPC - École nationale des ponts et chaussées - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique - INRAE - Institut National de Recherche pour l’Agriculture, l’Alimentation et l’Environnement) |
| Abstract: | This paper shows that even moderate air pollution levels, such as those in Europe, harm the economy by reducing firm performance. Using monthly firm-level data from France, we estimate the causal impact of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5 ) on sales and worker absenteeism. Leveraging exogenous pollution shocks from local wind direction changes, we find that a 10 percent increase in monthly PM 2.5 exposure reduces firm sales by 0.4 percent on average over the next two months, with sector-specific variation.Simultaneously, sick leave rises by 1 percent. However, this labor supply reduction explains only a small part of the sales decline. Our evidence suggests that air pollution also reduces worker productivity and dampens local demand. Aligning air quality with WHO guidelines would yield economic benefits on par with the costs of regulation or the health benefits from reduced mortality. |
| Keywords: | Cost of air pollution, Absenteeism, Firm performance |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:hal:psewpa:hal-05009744 |
| By: | Martínez, Claudia; Smith, Raimundo; Perticará, Marcela |
| Abstract: | This study employs an event study methodology to analyze the overall impact of childbirth, as well as the birth of a child with a disability, on the labor market outcomes of mothers and fathers. We use an annual panel of Chilean labor outcomes based on administrative data from pension and unemployment insurance, as well as data from the National Disability Registry in Chile. The findings reveal a significant gender gap associated with childbirth, which more than doubles in the presence of childhood disability: four years after childbirth, the gender gap in employment increases from 15% to 36% when the child has a disability. Specifically, childhood disability leads to parental specialization, creating an intra-gender gap. Mothers of children with disabilities experience poorer labor market outcomes than mothers of children without disabilities; four years after childbirth, these mothers are 15% less likely to be employed than other mothers. Conversely, fathers of children with disabilities tend to have higher labor market engagement than fathers of children without disabilities. These findings underscore the importance of caregiving policies, both in general and specifically for families of children with disabilities. |
| JEL: | I14 J13 J16 J22 J31 J71 |
| Date: | 2025–02 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:13993 |
| By: | Tetsuji OKAZAKI; Toshihiro Okubo; Eric Strobl |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the role of life insurance buffering negative income shocks on schooling. We focus on middle school grade promotion rates under earthquake disasters in early 20th century Japan. We constructed a dataset on grade promotions by gender, life insurance claims, and information on the deadliness of earthquakes, at the prefecture-level. The results of mediation analyses indicate that life insurance significantly buffered the negative impact of earthquakes on the promotion of boys to higher grades, while for girls the buffering effect of life insurance was mostly small and insignificant, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction. |
| Date: | 2025–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cnn:wpaper:25-010e |
| By: | Abdel-Hamid Bello; Maripier Isabelle; Guy Lacroix |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the effects of prenatal exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) on birth outcomes in a low-pollution setting. Using linked administrative data on births and air quality in Quebec (2008-2015), we compare infants exposed to different pollution levels within the same neighborhoods and time periods to account for socioeconomic and seasonal differences. We find no significant effects at the population level, but exposure increases the risk of low birth weight and preterm birth among female infants and children of less-educated mothers. These findings suggest that even in low-exposure environments, current air quality standards may not sufficiently protect vulnerable populations. Strengthening pollution advisories for pregnant women and refining regional air quality policies could help mitigate these risks. Cet article examine les effets de l'exposition prénatale aux particules fines (PM2, 5) sur la santé des nouveaux nés dans un contexte de faible pollution. En utilisant des données administratives couplées sur les naissances et la qualité de l'air au Québecentre 2008 et 2015, nous comparons les nourrissons exposés à différents niveaux de pollution dans les mêmes quartiers et périodes afin de tenir compte des différences socioéconomiques et saisonnières. Si nous ne constatons pas d'effet significatif au niveau de la population, nos résultats suggèrent que l'exposition à la PM2.5 augmente le risque de faible poids de naissance et de naissance prématurée chez les nourrissons de sexe féminin et les enfants de mères moins instruites. Ces résultats suggèrent que, même dans les environnements caractérisés par de faibles niveaux de particules fines, le renforcement des avis de pollution pour les femmes enceintes et l'affinement des politiques régionales en matière de qualité de l'air pourraient contribuer à atténuer ces risques notamment pour les populations plus vulnérables. |
| Keywords: | Infant health, air pollution, in utero exposure, low birthweight, prematurity, regulatory thresholds, Santé infantile, pollution atmosphérique, exposition in utero, faible poids de naissance, prématurité, seuils réglementaires |
| Date: | 2025–04–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:cir:cirwor:2025s-09 |
| By: | Petri Böckerman; Mika Haapanen; Jani Kuhakoski; Tiina Kuuppelomäki; Juuso Villanen |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the understudied effect of relative age on mental health in adulthood. Our empirical analysis utilizes nationwide Finnish register-based data on mental health, encompassing a spectrum of conditions from severe to less severe mental health problems. To identity causal effects, we employ a regression discontinuity design centered around the January 1 cutoff. We find that being born at the start of the year leads to better mental health outcomes. Notably, these effects, primarily influenced by relative school starting age, are driven by women in their late twenties. |
| Keywords: | relative age, mental health, education, school starting age, children |
| JEL: | I10 I14 I31 J13 |
| Date: | 2024–12–03 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pst:wpaper:349 |
| By: | Joan Costa-Font; Anna Nicińska; Melcior Rosello-Roig; Joan Costa-i-Font |
| Abstract: | Past trauma resulting from personal life shocks, especially during periods of particular volatility such as regime transition (or regime change), can give rise to significant long-lasting effects on people’s health and well-being. We study this question by drawing on longitudinal and retrospective data to examine the effect of past exposure to major individual-level shocks (specifically hunger, persecution, dispossession, and exceptional stress) on current measures of an individual’s health and mental well-being. We study the effect of the timing of the personal shocks, alongside the additional effect of ‘institutional uncertainty’ of regime change in post-communist European countries. Our findings are as follows: First, we document evidence of the detrimental effects of shocks on a series of relevant health and well-being outcomes. Second, we show evidence of more pronounced detrimental consequences of such personal shocks experienced by individuals living in formerly communist countries (which accrue to about 8% and 10% in the case of hunger and persecution, respectively) than in non-communist countries. The effects are robust and take place in addition to the direct effects of regime change and shocks. |
| Keywords: | transition shocks, Soviet communism, later life health, health care system. |
| JEL: | I18 H75 H79 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11763 |
| By: | Adamopoulou, Effrosyni; Cao, Yaming; Kaya, Ezgi |
| Abstract: | We use the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health to explore how high school peers' grit, a personality trait characterized by perseverance and passion, influences long-term outcomes approximately 15 years after high school. Exploiting random variation within schools across cohorts and the longitudinal nature of our data, we find t hat p eer g rit s ignificantly in creases fu ture earnings, especially for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This implies that peer grit may help bridge socioeconomic gaps. We identify two key mechanisms: an increased likelihood of employment in jobs aligned with career goals and an increased resilience to difficulties. Additionally, peer grit leads to higher job satisfaction and asset accumulation. Thus, peer grit's effects extend beyond short-term educational performance and persist into adulthood. |
| Keywords: | grit, peer effects, long-term outcomes, Add Health |
| JEL: | I24 J13 J24 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:zewdip:312578 |
| By: | Wu, Fengyu; Wang, Julia Shu-Huah; You, Jing; Teitler, Julien |
| Abstract: | This study examines the health impacts of a large-scale internal migration reform in China. Using nationally representative data from the China Labor-Force Dynamics Survey (2012-2018) and a unique dataset on city-level policy intensity and adoption timing, we employ a triple-difference approach to estimate the effects of migration policies on migrants' perceived physical and emotional health. We find that more lenient policies significantly improve migrants' health relative to natives. Integration policies yield health benefits approximately 3-4 times greater than selection policies. The most effective policy tools enhancing all health outcomes are integration policies granting migrants access to public services and education and selection policies targeting high-skilled migrants. Health improvements are driven by reduced overtime work, greater social capital, and stronger integration with natives. Analysis of treatment effect heterogeneity indicates that selection policies offer more consistent health benefits across various durations of residence, while integration policies primarily benefit long-term migrants. |
| Keywords: | Health, Migration Policies, Internal Migration, Hukou Reform, China |
| JEL: | I18 J61 O15 R23 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1598 |
| By: | Yarkin, Alexander |
| Abstract: | This paper documents the effects of home-country Internet expansion on immigrants' health and subjective well-being (SWB). Combining data on SWB and health from the European Social Survey (ESS) with data on 3G and overall Internet expansion (ITU and Collins Batholomew), I find that immigrants' SWB and health increase following home-country Internet expansion. This result is observed in both the TWFE, and event study frameworks. The effects are stronger for (i) first-generation immigrants, (ii) those less socially integrated at destination, and (iii) those with stronger family ties to the origins. Thus, while recent evidence points towards negative effects of the Internet and social media on user well-being, the effects are very different for immigrants. |
| Keywords: | Immigration, Internet, Subjective Well-being, Health, Social Networks |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1573 |
| By: | Goßner, Laura (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany); Jaschke, Philipp (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany); Kosyakova, Yuliya (Institute for Employment Research (IAB), Nuremberg, Germany) |
| Abstract: | "This paper analyzes the role of health for refugees’ integration into host societies' labor markets. We exploit the quasi-random dispersal policies of refugees across regions in Germany to analyze the causal effect of health on employment. Based on regional and temporal heterogeneity in a policy adoption that provided earlier access to health care services through electronic health cards (eHCs), combined with the regional availability of health care services and pre-migration health status, we construct instrumental variables (IVs) providing plausibly exogenous variation in refugees’ post-arrival health status. Our results reveal that favorable physical health (PCS) improves males’ employment probability. Concurrently, favorable mental health (MCS) increases females’ employment rates, although this effect must be scrutinized due to weak instruments. Regarding potential mechanisms, we provide evidence that better health increases language course participation and German language proficiency for female refugees." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en)) |
| Keywords: | IAB-Open-Access-Publikation ; IAB-BAMF-SOEP-Befragung von Geflüchteten |
| JEL: | I10 I18 J64 C26 |
| Date: | 2025–04–15 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:iab:iabdpa:202505 |
| By: | Tim Cejka; Marlies Piek; Mazhar Waseem |
| Abstract: | Sin taxes are increasingly being used to discourage the consumption of goods perceived to harm individuals and society. This paper examines the impact of South Africa's Health Promotion Levy (HPL)—the first sugar tax implemented in Africa—on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in the country. Using comprehensive data from excise returns submitted by manufacturers and importers of SSBs, we find that the HPL was extremely effective in reducing the consumption of sugar through these beverages. |
| Keywords: | Tax, Commodities, Taxation, Health, Promotion |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:unu:wpaper:wp-2025-21 |
| By: | Tuomas Kosonen; Sami Jysmä; Riikka Savolainen |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the relationship between substitutability of taxed and nontaxed goods and the price elasticity of demand. We organize the paper through a simple model that yields as a result a highly convex relationship between the demand elasticity and how close non-taxed substitutes are available. Empirically we analyze a Finnish sin tax scheme for sweets, soda and ice cream providing us with quasi-experimental variation through multiple reforms. We have product and storelevel data on sales and prices containing hundreds of millions of observations. We also develop survey evidence on substitution preferences across categories of goods. Our estimated consumption elasticity is close to zero for sweets and ice cream that have intermediate non-taxed substitute: cookies. In a stark contrast, when the tax rate was doubled for sugary soft drinks but not for their close substitute non-sugary soft drinks, consumption elasticity is close to unity. These estimates align well with our theory framework wherein even with intermediate non-taxed substitutes available the demand elasticity is close to zero, while it is close to unity when very close substitutes are available. We also provide evidence that the quasiexperimental price elasticity estimates in the previous literature align with our theory framework. |
| Keywords: | excise taxes, sin tax, consumption, substitution, sweets, soda |
| JEL: | H2 I18 |
| Date: | 2024–04–08 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pst:wpaper:342 |
| By: | Katharina Bettig; Valentin Lindlacher |
| Abstract: | Commuting is a fundamental aspect of employees’ daily routines and continues to evolve with technological advancements. Yet the effects of commuting on subjective well-being remain insufficiently investigated in the context of expanding digital connectivity. This paper examines the causal effects of changes in commuting distance on subjective well-being in an era of widespread mobile internet availability. Exploiting exogenous shifts in commuting distance resulting from employer-driven workplace relocations, we employ a Difference-in-Differences framework using data from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP) from 2010 to 2019. Our results show that an involuntary increase in commuting distance reduces life satisfaction by 3 percent, on average, and heightens feelings of worry by almost 8 percent, on average. Our heterogeneity analysis shows that increased mobile coverage during commutes partially mitigates the decline in life satisfaction but exacerbates the negative impact on satisfaction with leisure. |
| Keywords: | commuting, subjective well-being, mobile coverage, life satisfaction, SOEP, panel data |
| JEL: | I31 J28 R40 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11784 |
| By: | Laliotis, Ioannis |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the relationship between hospital quality and the share of foreign doctors in the English NHS. Baseline findings suggest that heart attack mortality is higher in hospitals with greater shares of foreign doctors practising relevant specialties. Robustness tests and heterogeneity analyses indicate that this association is specific to Acute Myocardial Infraction (AMI) treatment and is driven by hospitals that are smaller, of lower-quality, and ill-equipped to provide optimal care. When explicitly considering for treatment type, AMI mortality does not vary with the share of foreign AMI specialists in hospitals capable to access certain treatment technologies within 150 min. Overall, the results suggest that higher AMI mortality is not caused by foreign-trained AMI doctors but instead reflects structural challenges and resource-driven hiring patterns in constrained hospitals, which tend to rely more heavily on foreign doctors to mitigate worse outcomes. Further research is needed to better understand the allocation of foreign doctors to underperforming hospitals and its implications for healthcare delivery. |
| Keywords: | English NHS; foreign doctors; mortality; hospital quality |
| JEL: | I10 J61 F22 |
| Date: | 2025–06–30 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:127663 |
| By: | Gmeiner, Michael; Gschwandtner, Adelina |
| Abstract: | There is substantial evidence from psychology and medicine that pets are associated with better health and higher life satisfaction of their human companions. Yet whether this relationship is causal or purely a correlation remains largely unknown. We use an instrumental variable approach to overcome this, specifically exploiting relationships in which neighbours ask individuals to look over their property when traveling, which is correlated with pet companionship. We control for baseline relationships with neighbours as well as various other potential sources of bias. Using the Innovation Panel as part of the UK Household Longitudinal Survey, we find that a pet companion increases life satisfaction by 3 to 4 points on a scale of 1 to 7. Moreover, we estimate the size of the impact of pets on human life satisfaction and wellbeing in monetary units. We find that having a pet companion is worth up to £70, 000 a year in terms of life satisfaction, similar to values obtained in the literature for meeting with friends and relatives on a regular basis. |
| Keywords: | life satisfaction; human-animal interaction; pet effect; health promotion; interspecies interaction; wellbeing |
| JEL: | I30 D91 |
| Date: | 2025–03–31 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ehl:lserod:127746 |
| By: | Lan Nguyen; Connelly, Luke B.; Birch, Stephen; Ha Trong Nguyen |
| Abstract: | This study aimed to evaluate the impact of the Child Dental Benefits Schedule (CDBS) on dental visits among eligible children and adolescents in Australia. The study analysed the data set from the birth cohort (B cohort) in the Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC). A difference-in-differences analysis was used to examine 22, 985 observations in the period 2008-2018. The analyses showed that the CDBS policy had a statistically significant and positive impact on dental visits among eligible children and adolescents. There was a 6.1-6.4 percentage point increase (p-value |
| Keywords: | Dental Care, Government Programs, Children, Adolescents, Longitudinal Studies |
| JEL: | H43 I14 I18 J13 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1575 |
| By: | Shreemoyee, Shreemoyee; Roychowdhury, Punarjit; Dhamija, Gaurav |
| Abstract: | We empirically examine the causal impact of women's financial inclusion on their exposure to Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) in India using data from the fifth round of the National Family Health Survey. However, establishing a causal link between women's financial inclusion and IPV is challenging due to unobserved confounders and reverse causality. To overcome these obstacles, we adopt a nonparametric bounds approach. We find robust evidence that women's financial inclusion significantly increases their exposure to IPV by at least 7.8 percentage points. We provide suggestive evidence that this result arises because women's financial inclusion is likely to disrupt patriarchal beliefs about gender roles, lead to female guilt, and increase husbands' use of IPV for instrumental reasons. Our findings suggest that empowering women financially, while crucial, may inadvertently increase their vulnerability to IPV unless such initiatives are paired with efforts to shift underlying cultural norms surrounding gender. |
| Keywords: | Intimate Partner Violence, Financial Inclusion, Partial Identification, India |
| JEL: | J12 J16 O12 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1599 |
| By: | Buliskeria, Nino; Elminejad, Ali; Havranek, Tomas; Irsova, Zuzana; Jurajda, Stepan; Kapicka, Marek; Luskova, Martina |
| Abstract: | Betthäuser et al. (2023) examine the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the learning progress of school-aged children. They collect 291 estimates from 42 studies. Their meta-analysis-corrected estimate implies a substantial decline in students' learning (Cohen's d = −0.14, 95% confidence interval −0.17 to −0.10). First, we successfully reproduce the main results and the majority of supporting figures. Second, we provide additional analysis addressing publication bias by implementing correction techniques: PET-PEESE (funnelbased), 3PSM (selection model), and RoBMA (model averaging). Additionally, we implement novel approaches that account for the strength of biased selection favoring affirmative results in the sample of analyzed studies. Third, we use techniques that assume the presence of p-hacking (MAIVE, RTMA). Using these methods, the corrected effect ranges from −0.25 to −0.11 with high statistical significance. While our analysis does reveal some evidence of selection bias in underlying data (primary studies), these phenomena do not appear to systematically distort the overall findings of the original study. |
| Keywords: | Replication, Robustness, Meta-analysis, COVID-19, Education, Learning deficit |
| JEL: | I21 I24 I28 C68 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:i4rdps:223 |
| By: | Alexander M. Danzer; Helen Zeidler |
| Abstract: | This paper examines the link between dynamically inconsistent time preferences and individual food waste behavior. Food waste is conceptualized as unintentional outcome of choices along the food consumption chain. Capitalizing on a nationally representative longitudinal survey from Germany, we construct targeted metrics of food consumption and waste behaviors. We find that more present-biased individuals waste more food. Our study investigates the behavioral mechanism that involves postponing domestic consumption of healthy food despite good consumption intentions, resulting in food spoilage. Studying inconsistencies between grocery shopping and food preparation is pivotal for understanding the significant, persistent amounts of food waste within households. |
| Keywords: | dynamic inconsistency, food consumption, food waste, healthy eating. |
| JEL: | D12 D15 Q53 Q18 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ces:ceswps:_11781 |
| By: | Patrinos, Harry Anthony; Jakubowski, Maciej; Gajderowicz, Tomasz |
| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic caused widespread disruptions to education, with school closures affecting over one billion children. These closures, aimed at reducing virus transmission, resulted in significant learning losses, particularly in mathematics and science. Using United States data from TIMSS, this study analyzes the impact of school closure on learning outcomes. The losses amount to 0.36 SD for mathematics and 0.16 SD for science. The declines are similar across grades. The average decline in mathematics performance among U.S. students is substantially greater than the global average. n science, the decline observed among U.S. students does not significantly differ from the global trend. Girls experienced greater deviations from long-term trends than boys across both subjects and grade levels, reversing long term trends that once favored girls. Robustness checks confirm that pandemic-related school closures caused the decline in mathematics, while the downturn in science had already begun before COVID-19. |
| Keywords: | Pandemics, human capital, returns to education, labor markets, COVID-19 |
| JEL: | E24 J11 J17 J31 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1574 |
| By: | Epstein, Gil S.; Heizler, Odelia; Israeli, Osnat |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the effect of herd behavior, or information cascades, on the willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19. We use the 2021/2022 wave of the European Social Survey combined with data from the organization Our World in Data and measure the herding behavior as the change in the share of vaccinated people in the population just prior to the individual's decision. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, health status, COVID- 19 illness history, and pandemic-related features, the results show that the information cascade significantly increases vaccination intentions. This suggests that the decision on whether to vaccinate is affected by the behavior of others. Moreover, we find a U-shaped association between the herd effect and the share of the population that is vaccinated. Finally, the herd effect on the vaccination decisions of young people, people in poor health, and immigrants is higher than for others. |
| Keywords: | Herd Behavior, COVID-19, Vaccination, European Social Survey, Information Cascades |
| JEL: | I12 D91 |
| Date: | 2025 |
| URL: | https://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:zbw:glodps:1578 |