Journal of Public Economics

Does overconfidence about future prosperity undermine Americans' support for economic redistribution?

The authors tested this hypothesis found little support for it. On this issue, ideology appears stronger than economic self-interest.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Does the prospect of upward mobility undermine support for redistribution?"

By @donandrewmoore.bsky.social‬, @renechoudhari.bsky.social, & @aileenwu.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics

The authors show theoretically and empirically that government purchases from downstream industries with low markups, high labor intensity, and small consumption and investment shares yield the largest effects on aggregate GDP.

"It’s not just how much you spend, it’s where you do so."

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"The sectoral origins of heterogeneous spending multipliers"

By @hafedhbouakez.bsky.social, Emiliano Santoro, & @omarrachedi.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics

This authors show that commuting is a hidden driver of the motherhood wage gap (in Norway).

After childbirth, mothers shorten their commutes—limiting job options, reducing market access, and shifting toward lower-wage but family-friendly firms.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Parenthood and the gender gap in commuting"

By Aline Bütikofer, René Karadakic, & Alexander Willén

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #gendergap

What’s hot in public econ?

Here are some of the most popular @jpube.bsky.social papers from the past 90 days.

Free to read: www.sciencedirect.com/journal/jour...

Venezuelan migrants face steep hiring penalties in Latin America.

In an experiment with HR recruiters in Ecuador, the authors find migrants were 18pp less likely to be selected, offered 3% lower wages, and viewed as worse fits—despite higher education levels in the population.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"The Migrant Penalty in Latin America: Experimental Evidence from Job Recruiters"

By @raissafabregas.bsky.social & Wladimir Zanoni

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics

Authors find that after marketing authorization, originators reduce follow-on secondary patents, others follow with a lag. Product patents stay steady.

Clinical trial disclosures during the process create prior art that deters low-novelty filings. Regulatory transparency can boost patent quality.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Marketing authorization and strategic patenting: Evidence from pharmaceuticals"

By Dennis Byrski & @lucyxiaoluwang.bsky.social
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #publicfinance #healtheconomics

Does outsourcing Medicaid to private insurers reduce fiscal costs?

This authors find that county mandates for private plan enrollment of disabled beneficiaries increase spending by nearly 10% in four years, suggesting weak long-run cost control under current payment rules.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"The dynamic fiscal costs of outsourcing health insurance - evidence from Medicaid"

By Timothy Layton & @eranpolitzer.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #publicfinance #healtheconomics

The authors study the effect of group purchasing organizations (GPOs) on supply expenses in the U.S. hospital setting.

They find that GPOs deliver cost savings, some of which are passed through to consumers in terms of lowered hospital prices, although only in highly competitive markets.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"The value of group purchasing: Evidence from the U.S. hospital industry"

By Haizhen Lin & @yanhao-wang.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #publicfinance #healtheconomics

The authors find that states with greater exposure to industrial automation collect less tax revenue and cut transfers to localities.

Localities respond by spending less on K-12 education.

Automation exposure is also associated with a decline in student test scores.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Industrial automation and local public goods"

By Luke Spreen, Ziyuan Wang, & @katelangyang.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics

Why do women engage in sex work, especially given the health risks associated with the market?

This paper shows that during a historical recession, the number of sex work establishments rose, suggesting that economic hardship may drive women into the market.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Fallen women: Recessions and the supply of sex work"

By @grant-goehring.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics

Racial inequality in unemployment insurance receipt This paper studies differences in unemployment insurance (UI) benefit receipt among White and Black individuals. We combine data containing detailed i…

Correct link here: www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

Authors find that black individuals in the US are 30% less likely to receive UI and receive 46% fewer benefits than White individuals.

These gaps aren't driven by differences in UI eligibility. Black workers' lower earnings and location in the South explain a large share (but not all) of the gaps.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Racial inequality in unemployment insurance receipt"

By ‪@elirakuka.bsky.social‬ & @bryanstuart.bsky.social

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #publicfinance

Firms typically price diet and sugary sodas similarly, but soda taxes often target only sugary drinks.

This paper explores how four retailers respond to soda taxes: three raise prices on sugary sodas while one keeps uniform pricing, passing part of the tax onto diet sodas.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Uniform brand-variant pricing and heterogeneous firm responses to excise taxes: Evidence from six U.S. cities"

By Danna Thomas (University of South Carolina)

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #publicfinance #healtheconomics

The authors find that across six wealthy countries, large inheritances are linked to greater wealth inequality.

This could guide the design of inheritance tax policy—like setting fairer exemption thresholds or higher rates for the largest transfers.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"The Influence of Inheritances on Wealth Inequality in Rich Countries"

By @morellisal.bsky.social, Brian Nolan, @juancpal.bsky.social, & Philippe Van Kerm

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #publicfinance

The authors study how mandatory disclosure of litigation status affects housing markets in India.

Using unit-level data from litigated and non-litigated projects, they find that after the reform prices and sales in litigated projects declined, reducing information asymmetry.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"Do mandatory disclosures squeeze the lemons? The case of housing markets in India"

By @vaidehitandel.bsky.social, @gandhisahil.bsky.social, Anupam Nanda, & Nandini Agnihotri

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #publiceconomics #HousingMarket

The authors find that state auto IRA policies cause many firms to start offering their own retirement plans (like 401(k)s), rather than using state-facilitated auto IRA programs, despite higher cost to employers.

Behavioral factors may play a role in encouraging plan starts.

Just published in @jpube.bsky.social:

"State Auto-IRA policies and firm behavior: Lessons from administrative tax data"

By Adam Bloomfield, Lucas Goodman, @manirao.bsky.social, & Sita Slavov

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

#econsky #pension #publiceconomics #publicfinance