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Assistant Professor of
Economics
Weatherhead School of
Management
11119 Bellflower Road
Cleveland, Ohio 44106
Office Phone: 216-368-8845
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I
am an applied microeconomist specializing in behavioral economics. My
interests are wide-ranging and eclectic and include the study of risk
aversion and insurance choices, discrimination, and issues surrounding
self-control and commitment. I received my Ph.D. in economics from U.C.
Berkeley in 2006.
Working Papers
(Over)Insuring
Modest Risks [Revising
to resubmit to American Economic
Journal: Applied Economics]
Here is a link to an
earlier version of this paper that circulated under the title "Abundant Aversion to Moderate Risk: Evidence
from Homeowners Insurance"
What's in a Picture? Evidence of Discrimination
from Prosper.com [Revising to
resubmit to the Journal of Human
Resources]
With Devin Pope
A
New Perspective on Stereotypical Gender Differences in Test Scores [Revising
for a forthcoming issue of Journal of
Economic Perspectives]
With Devin Pope
Implementing
Anti-Discrimination Policies in Statistical Profiling Models [Revising
to resubmit to American Economic Journal:
Economic Policy]
With Devin Pope
Inattention
in the Used-Car Market [Paper
coming soon]
With Nicola Lacetera
and Devin Pope
Abstract:
Analyzing over 22 million wholesale used-car transactions, we document a
puzzling pattern: sale prices drop
discontinuously as the odometer mileage on used cars crosses 10,000-mile
thresholds. A model of how
inattentive consumers process information contained in large numbers can
explain this pattern. We obtain
estimates for the inattention parameter in the model and investigate
whether the inattention can be attributed to the final used-car customers,
or the used-car salesmen who buy cars in the wholesale market. The pattern appears to be driven, at
least in part, by the final customers.
We discuss the significance of these results to the literature on
inattention and suggest other settings where this type of inattention might
matter.
Digit
Ratios (2D:4D) as Predictors of Risky Decision Making
With Robert Slonim and
Ellen Garbarino
Abstract:
Using an emerging measure of prenatal androgens, the ratio between the length
of the second and fourth digits of the hand, we explore the biological
basis of risk taking. This 2D:4D ratio is a well-known sexually
dimorphic marker, with men having lower ratios than women on average.
In both men and women the 2D:4D ratio is established in utero and is
negatively related to prenatal testosterone and positively related to
prenatal estradiol. We find that a lower 2D:4D ratio (i.e.,
signifying higher levels of in utero testosterone) predicts greater risk
taking behavior for both men and women in a financially motivated
risk-taking task, supporting a biological basis for risk taking behavior.
Work in Progress:
"Commitments
and Incentives for Exercise: A Field Experiment" joint with Heather Royer and Mark
Stehr.
“Can
Quality Cars be Produced in the U.S?
Evidence from Used Cars” with
Nicola Lacetera
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