Understanding how individual and societal actions generate intended and unintended consequences has long been an interest of mine. When policymakers enact local or national policies aimed at achieving certain goals, there are often unforeseen impacts on communities and demographic cohorts. Understanding both these intended and unintended consequences is necessary to fully evaluate the costs and benefits associated with these policies.

My research uses quasi-experimental methods to study these consequences, with a focus on health, crime, education, and social insurance. I exploit natural experiments from policy changes at the state and national level, using large administrative and survey datasets to estimate causal effects.

Publications

“Recreational Marijuana Laws, Racial Disparities in Arrests, and Psychiatric Well-being.”
Journal of Law and Economics, forthcoming. With Zach S. Fone and Joseph J. Sabia.

“Did Expanding Sports Opportunities for Women Reduce Crime? Evidence from a Natural Experiment.”
Journal of Human Resources, 2024, 58(3): 1120-1133. With Joseph J. Sabia and Drew McNichols.

See also the companion working paper applying Title IX variation to adult women’s welfare program participation.

“Anti-Bullying Laws and Suicidal Behaviors Among Teenagers.”
Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, 2022, 41(3): 787-823. With Joseph J. Sabia and Daniel I. Rees.

See also the follow-up working paper tracing spillover effects from anti-bullying laws to youth organ donation.

“Ignorance Is Bliss: Understanding How the Number of Eco-Labels Affects High vs. Low-Knowledge Consumers.”
Business Forum, 2025, 30(1): 31-47. With Irem Yoruk and Mine Ucok Hughes.

Working Papers and Current Projects

Active manuscripts under review, working papers, and work-in-progress projects are maintained on a dedicated page with abstracts, JEL classifications, and draft access. Drafts are available upon request.