Working Papers
The Effect of Health Insurance Coverage Mandates on the Education of Young Adults: Evidence from the ACA
Abstract:
This paper examines the interaction of state and federal dependent health coverage mandates on young adult educational enrollment using data from the October Supplement of the Current Population Survey, and a Differences-in-Differences style model model. State mandates preceding the Affordable Care (ACA) required school enrollment, while the ACA did not. Those eligible for state laws with student requirements were 2.4 percentage points more likely to enroll in college, and were more likely to enroll full time and in four degree programs. After the ACA was enacted, those previously eligible for state mandates lost the incentive to go to school, while those ineligible could now pursue higher education as opposed to working for group coverage. As a result, the ACA lead to a 6.6 percent point decline in the college enrollment gap driven by full time and four year degree program enrollment among those previously ineligible for dependent coverage via state mandates with education requirements. These results show that dependent coverage leads to higher education enrollment by serving as a tuition subsidy.
The Economic Consequences of Parental Union Dissolution
Abstract:
This paper examines the impact of parental union dissolution on the economic resources available to children. Using the 1968-2019 PSID, and multiple measures of economic well-being, I compare the dynamic consequences of parental separation before and after the 1996 welfare reform using an event study model with child fixed effects. My results suggest that welfare reform has contributed to worsening economic outcomes following parental union dissolution.
The Impact of Safety Net Reforms on the Economic Consequences of Parental Union Dissolution
Abstract:
Using the 1968-2019 PSID, this paper examines the impact of the 1996 welfare reform and other safety net reforms in the 1990s on components of income and food expenditures available to children whose parents divorce or separate. Using an event study model with child fixed effects, I show changes in earnings, take-up of public assistance benefits, spending on food at home, restaurant meals, and food purchased with SNAP following divorce or separation. Comparing changes in these measures after parental union dissolution before and after the policy changes in the 1990s, for children born to mothers with a high school degree or less, relative to those born to mothers with more than a high school degree, my results indicate that the policy reforms of the 1990's negatively impacted material well-being among children most impacted these reforms.
Will Work for Insurance: Estimating the Causal Impact of Health Insurance on Labor Supply
Abstract:
The Young Adult Coverage Expansion took effect on September 23, 2010. Under this provision, individuals are allowed to remain on their parent’s health insurance plan through age 26. This paper uses a control function to estimate the second stage labor market effects using mandate eligibility as an instrument. Using data from the 2006 to 2014 March Current Population Survey, I find the mandate caused substitution from full-time to part-time work.
Works in Progress
The Effect of Dependent Health Insurance Coverage on Parental Health Care Use
Dependent Health Insurance Mandates and Youth Disconnectedness
The Effect of Health Insurance Coverage Mandates on the Education of Young Adults: Evidence from the ACA
Abstract:
This paper examines the interaction of state and federal dependent health coverage mandates on young adult educational enrollment using data from the October Supplement of the Current Population Survey, and a Differences-in-Differences style model model. State mandates preceding the Affordable Care (ACA) required school enrollment, while the ACA did not. Those eligible for state laws with student requirements were 2.4 percentage points more likely to enroll in college, and were more likely to enroll full time and in four degree programs. After the ACA was enacted, those previously eligible for state mandates lost the incentive to go to school, while those ineligible could now pursue higher education as opposed to working for group coverage. As a result, the ACA lead to a 6.6 percent point decline in the college enrollment gap driven by full time and four year degree program enrollment among those previously ineligible for dependent coverage via state mandates with education requirements. These results show that dependent coverage leads to higher education enrollment by serving as a tuition subsidy.
The Economic Consequences of Parental Union Dissolution
Abstract:
This paper examines the impact of parental union dissolution on the economic resources available to children. Using the 1968-2019 PSID, and multiple measures of economic well-being, I compare the dynamic consequences of parental separation before and after the 1996 welfare reform using an event study model with child fixed effects. My results suggest that welfare reform has contributed to worsening economic outcomes following parental union dissolution.
The Impact of Safety Net Reforms on the Economic Consequences of Parental Union Dissolution
Abstract:
Using the 1968-2019 PSID, this paper examines the impact of the 1996 welfare reform and other safety net reforms in the 1990s on components of income and food expenditures available to children whose parents divorce or separate. Using an event study model with child fixed effects, I show changes in earnings, take-up of public assistance benefits, spending on food at home, restaurant meals, and food purchased with SNAP following divorce or separation. Comparing changes in these measures after parental union dissolution before and after the policy changes in the 1990s, for children born to mothers with a high school degree or less, relative to those born to mothers with more than a high school degree, my results indicate that the policy reforms of the 1990's negatively impacted material well-being among children most impacted these reforms.
Will Work for Insurance: Estimating the Causal Impact of Health Insurance on Labor Supply
Abstract:
The Young Adult Coverage Expansion took effect on September 23, 2010. Under this provision, individuals are allowed to remain on their parent’s health insurance plan through age 26. This paper uses a control function to estimate the second stage labor market effects using mandate eligibility as an instrument. Using data from the 2006 to 2014 March Current Population Survey, I find the mandate caused substitution from full-time to part-time work.
Works in Progress
The Effect of Dependent Health Insurance Coverage on Parental Health Care Use
Dependent Health Insurance Mandates and Youth Disconnectedness