Calendar

Calendar

Calendar of Events

Economics Department Seminar Series

Fall 2011

Joseph Doyle, MITThursday, October 13, 4:00 p.m.
Shannon Room, Hubbard Hall
Joseph Doyle, MIT
"Effects of Juvenile Incarceration: Evidence from Randomly-Assigned Judges"

Abstract:
Approximately 80,000 youths are currently incarcerated in the U.S., yet little is known whether such a penalty defers future crime or interrupts human capital formation in a way that increases the likelihood of later criminal behavior.  This paper uses the incarceration tendency of randomly-assigned judges as an instrumental variable to estimate causal effects of juvenile incarceration on adult recidivism.  Using over 60,000 juvenile offenders over a ten-year period from an urban county in the U.S., the estimates suggest large increases in the likelihood of adult incarceration for those who were incarcerated as a juvenile.  Marginal treatment effect estimates show that these results are found across a relatively wide range of judges, which adds confidence that our estimates are uncontaminated by selection into juvenile detention.

Joseph Doyle conducts empirical research, using microeconomic theory and modern empirical methods to answer policy questions, particularly in child welfare and health.  He studies the effects of foster care and other interventions on child outcomes, the returns to health care spending, and the role of health insurance on treatment provided to patients and health outcomes.

Thursday, November 10, 4:00 p.m.
Hawthorne Longfellow Hall, Chandler Room
Andreas Waldkirch, Colby College
"Foreign Participation, Productivity and Transition in a Least Developed Country: Firm-Level Evidence"

Abstract:
This paper investigates the effect of foreign presence at the sector and firm levels on the productivity of manufacturing firms in a least developed country in transition, Ethiopia. We examine both labor and total factor productivity (TFP) and control for a number of observed factors as well as unobserved heterogeneity using firm-level Census data for 2002-2009. We find robust evidence that foreign firms are more productive, all else equal, and that they also benefit from the presence of other foreign firms in a sector. There is some evidence that domestic firms benefit generally from this presence, although largely in the short run and when controlling for unobserved firm heterogeneity. Adding foreign presence at the regional level reveals strong negative regional productivity effects on domestic firms, but positive national sector effects. This is consistent with spillover benefits from the introduction of new products or production processes, but strong negative competition and labor market effects. These are attenuated when firm level heterogeneity is controlled for. Publicly owned firms, which are generally more productive, are similarly impacted, except those that make the transition to private firms during the sample period.


Thursday, December 8, 4:00 p.m.
Hawthorne Longfellow Hall, Chandler Room
Yao Tang, Bowdoin CollegeYao Tang, Bowdoin College
 "Exchange Rate Regimes, Trade, and the Wage Comovements"
Paper available here.