The Applied Econ Angle

In this episode, we dive into Joyce, Tan, and Zhang, published in the Journal of Health Economics in 2013, which explores the effects of abortion legalization in the United States around the landmark Roe v. Wade decision in 1973. We discuss the availability of abortion services pre- and post-Roe, using rediscovered data from New York in 1971 and 1972.

AI-generated timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Abortion Legalization in the US

00:27 Motivation Behind the Study

01:24 Key Contributions and Data Sources

01:49 Supply Shocks and Natural Experiments

02:37 Detailed Findings and Results

03:57 Implications and Key Takeaways

04:35 Conclusion and Further Reading

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Impact of Legal Abortion on Maternal Mortality

In this episode, we look at the effect of legal abortion on maternal mortality. The paper considered is by Farin, Hoehn-Velasco, and Pesko and Published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy in 2024.

AI-generated timestamps

00:00 Introduction to Maternal Mortality and Legal States

04:11 Impact on Non-White Women in Early Legal States

04:18 Exploring Mechanisms of Maternal Mortality Decline

04:23 Abortion-Related Deaths and Maternal Mortality

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhoehnvelasco.substack.com

Overview of 'Environmental Health Risks and Housing Values: Evidence from 1600 Toxic Plant Openings and Closings,' published in the American Economic Review in 2015 by Currie, Davis, Greenstone, and Walker. This research delves into the external costs of industrial plants in the U.S. by examining housing prices and public health outcomes linked to toxic emissions. Using data from EPA's toxic release inventory and various administrative sources, the study finds significant decreases in housing prices and adverse birth outcomes near newly opened plants.

AI-generated timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Environmental Health Risks

00:31 Overview of Industrial Emissions

01:17 Regulations and Research Objectives

02:16 Data Collection and Methodology

03:12 Research Design and Analysis

03:48 Findings on Housing Prices

04:29 Health Outcomes and Community Impact

05:19 Conclusion and Implications

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhoehnvelasco.substack.com

Overview of 'Air Pollution and Procyclical Mortality' by Heutel and Ruhm, published in the Journal of the Association of Environmental and Resource Economists in 2016. The paper investigates the paradoxical relationship between health and economic activity, specifically examining how pollution influences mortality rates during economic downturns.

AI-generated timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Paradox of Health and Economic Activity

00:18 Understanding Procyclical Mortality

01:26 The Role of Air Pollution

02:38 Research Methodology and Data

03:35 Key Findings and Results

04:29 Specific Pollutants and Mortality

05:21 Age-Specific Mortality Insights

05:57 Conclusion and Implications

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhoehnvelasco.substack.com

Overview of 'Testing the Water: Drinking Water Quality, Public Notifications, and Child Outcomes' published in the Review of Economics and Statistics in 2022 by Michelle Marcus. This paper investigates the links between drinking water quality violations, avoidance behavior, and child health outcomes.

AI-generated timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to Water Quality and Child Health

00:29 Study Motivation and Background

01:33 Research Contributions and Methodology

03:25 Key Findings on Water Quality Violations

04:25 Impact of Public Notifications

06:09 Policy Implications and Conclusion

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhoehnvelasco.substack.com

Overview of “The Flint Water Crisis: Impact on Fertility and Birth Outcomes” a 2019 study by Grossman and Slusky, published in Demography, examining the effects of the Flint water crisis on fertility and birth outcomes. The research investigates the impact of the switch from Lake Huron to Flint River water, leading to lead contamination.

AI-generated timestamps:

00:00 Introduction to the Flint Water Crisis Study

00:27 Background on Lead Exposure and Health Risks

01:34 Details of the Flint Water Crisis

02:33 Research Methodology and Data

03:03 Findings on Fertility Rates

03:49 Impact on Birth Weight

05:13 Conclusions and Policy Implications

05:55 Final Remarks and Further Reading

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhoehnvelasco.substack.com

Summary of Fadlon and Nielsen (2019) or Family Health Behaviors published in the American Economic Review.

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Summary of Hoehn Velasco et al (2023) The Long-Term Impact of in Utero Cigarette Taxes on Adult Prenatal Smoking published in the American Journal of Health Economics.

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Summary of Carpenter and Dobkin (2009) The Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Mortality: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from the Minimum Drinking Age, published in AEJ: Applied.

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Summary of Gehrsitz, Saffer, Grossman (2021) published in Journal of Public Economics.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit laurenhoehnvelasco.substack.com