We study the design and effectiveness of place-based industrial policy in the energy sector, through the Inflation Reduction Act's energy-community tax credits, which subsidize renewable investment in economically vulnerable and fossil-fuel reliant areas. Eligibility moderately increases renewable interconnection activity, yet the most distressed counties see no gains. We use a structural model of location choice to explain why and evaluate alternative designs. Relative to a place-blind subsidy, place-based policies generate marginal value of public funds ranging from 0.7-2.2 for wind and 1.9-2.9 for solar. Modest subsidies tied to resource quality and market access outperform more generous or broad vulnerability-based targeting.
The health consequences of sectoral transitions are theoretically ambiguous. Reduced industrial activity and associated pollution may improve health, while economic deterioration may worsen it. We examine these competing forces in the context of coal’s decline, linking restricted-access mortality data with records of coal-fired power plant and mine activity from 2004 to 2019. Power sector contractions reduce elderly mortality, while mining contractions increase mortality, especially among working-age adults. Declines in coal activity increase overdose deaths in both sectors. Pollution reductions alone provide an incomplete account of coal’s health consequences, as environmental and economic channels generate heterogeneous effects across sectors and populations.
We estimate the market value of reproductive rights as capitalized into U.S. housing markets. We do so using a synthetic difference-in-differences design to evaluate the effects of total abortion bans following the 2022 Dobbs decision, and drawing on housing market indices from Zillow and vacancy rate data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Housing Vacancy Survey. The results indicate that total abortion bans reduced rents by an average of 2.2% from July 2022 through June 2025, with the effect reaching 4.0% in the most recent year. Over the same horizon, bans increased rental vacancy rates by an average of 1.1 percentage points, with the effect reaching 1.8 percentage points in the most recent year. Estimates for home values and homeowner vacancy rates are similar in magnitude but less precise.
We investigate whether reproductive rights affect migration. We use a synthetic difference-in-differences design that leverages variation from the 2022 Dobbs decision, which allowed states to ban abortion, and population flows based on change-of-address data from the United States Postal Service. The results indicate that bans increase net migration outflows, with effect sizes growing throughout the year after the decision. The effects are more prominent for single-person households than family households, which may reflect larger effects on younger adults. We also find suggestive evidence of impacts for states hostile towards abortion in ways other than having total bans.
This study investigates the effects of fossil fuel power plant closures on local migration. I leverage variation in fuel prices and plant age that results in plausibly exogenous power plant retirements. The retirement results in a "stagnation effect" where both in-migration and out-migration decreases, a pattern not consistent with a typical gentrification result of increased in and out migration. My analysis shows that the stagnation effect is more pronounced in lower-income and predominantly Black communities, raising environmental justice concerns. These findings underscore the complex interplay between the environmental advantages and local economic challenges associated with phasing out fossil fuel infrastructure.
We provide quasi-experimental estimates of the impact of coal and natural gas power plant retirements on the mental health of local residents in the United States. Combining data on power plant retirements and restricted mental health data, we employ a difference-in-differences approach and find that coal-fired power plant retirements have a significant negative impact on mental health, while natural gas retirements have a positive effect. These findings offer valuable insights for ensuring an equitable and smooth energy transition. By understanding the mechanisms behind these effects — including economic impacts and local amenity improvements — we highlight opportunities for targeted policy interventions.
Beyond Labels: How Social Norms Shape Eco-label Consumption with Tibor Besedes
This study investigates the impact of social norms information on consumer behavior regarding eco-labeled products. I focus on three types of norms: injunctive norms, descriptive norms, and working-together normative appeals. Through a choice experiment, I explore how different norms interact with multiple eco-labels. Notably, descriptive norms begin to influence consumer choices when 50% or more of consumers are reported to purchase the product. Consumers exhibit a willingness to pay a premium for eco-labels, and this willingness increases with the number of labels presented. Under treatments involving injunctive norms and working-together appeals, both descriptive norms information and certified eco-labels contribute to higher willingness-to-pay values. These findings provide insights for promoting green consumption and environmental improvement through strategic norms communication.