Topics in Stratification: Theories and Measurement
Paper Session
Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM (EST)
- Chair: Jevay Grooms, Howard University
The Inequality of Recessions: The Application of Turning Point Analysis with Labor Market Disparities
Abstract
Utilizing turning point analysis reveals that downturns are detectable in economically vulnerable groups prior to official recession dating. Labor market disparities coincide with cyclical sensitivities and co-indicators of recession. After optimizing over trillions of candidate recession indicators, this work shows broader measures of labor utilization in standard turning-point frameworks, like a U6-based Sahm-style rule, signals recessions about one month earlier than conventional indicators and roughly five months before official dating. Comprehensive utilization measures capture both rising slack and early distress among economically vulnerable groups, which tend to deteriorate first. Extending this approach by education, race, and other margins produces more responsive indicators and reveals heterogeneity in labor-market volatility and recovery. These modified indicators improve recession dating and inform policy design.Mental Healthcare Facilities and Mortality: Evidence from Local Access and Insurance Expansion
Abstract
Do mental health treatment facilities save lives? Using County Business Patterns data (1999-2016) and within-county variation, I provide the first causal evidence that mental health infrastructure reduces mortality broadly. Each additional facility prevents 1.56 deaths per 100,000 residents from all causes annually, with mental and behavioral disorder (MBD) mortality declining by 0.079%. A 10% increase in facilities lowers overall mortality by 0.5% and MBD mortality by 2%. Three key findings emerge: (1) facility closures increase mortality ten times more than openings reduce it, revealing asymmetries with welfare implications; (2) Medicaid expansion amplifies facility effectiveness by 26% in high-uninsurance counties, demonstrating that insurance and infrastructure are complements, not substitutes; (3) facilities operate through multiple mechanisms beyond direct treatment, serving as gateways to disability programs and enabling pharmaceutical access. Effects concentrate among elderly and less-educated populations who face the highest access barriers. Event studies using the Sun and Abraham (2021) estimator show immediate, persistent effects with no pre-trends. The benefit-cost ratio exceeds 4-to-1, with each facility generating $11.7 million in annual net benefits. Results indicate that neither insurance expansion nor infrastructure investment alone maximizes health benefits; coordinated policies addressing both dimensions are essential for reducing mortality.Effect of State-Level E-Cig Flavor Bans on Black LGBTQ+ Adolescents
Abstract
While state-level e-cigarette flavor bans aim to curb the appeal of e-cigarettes and reduce nicotine use and addiction among youth, their impact may vary across intersecting marginalized populations. Black LGBTQ+ youth who exist at the intersection of two high risk groups face a significant and disproportionate burden of tobacco use driven by commercial targeting and social marginalization. It remains unclear if e-cigarette flavor bans reduce nicotine use among this group or simply drive them towards substitute tobacco products. This study utilizes data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) merged with state level policies and controls to evaluate the differential effects of this policy on Black LGBTQ+ adolescents. More specifically, using a triple-difference (DDD) framework, I investigate the spillover effect of e-cigarette flavor bans on current e-cigarette use, combustible cigarette smoking, and use of cigars and cigarillos among Black LGBTQ+ adolescents compared to other racial and minority groups. The study seeks to understand if such restrictions inadvertently exacerbate health disparities in highly vulnerable groups by shifting consumption towards higher risk combustible alternatives.A Spatial and Quantitative Analysis of Food Insecurity in the Metro Atlanta Area
Abstract
In the Metro-Atlanta area, many individuals, primarily of African American or Hispanic descent, lack access to fresh food, which leads to adverse health outcomes such as diet-related diseases, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity, and carcinogenic problems (Cohen 2021). This study identifies the incidence of food deserts in the Metro Atlanta area using ArcGIS Mapping tools. Using Feeding America data from 2023, it further examines the complexities of food insecurity and the factors contributing to it. The findings reveal racial disparity in exposure to food insecurity, leading to health and income disparities. The results may aid Atlanta policymakers in developing strategies for addressing and implementing practical and efficient fresh produce options for minority communities, providing an equitable opportunity for households in Fulton, DeKalb, Clayton, and Cobb Counties, Georgia, for sustainable livelihood.JEL Classifications
- J1 - Demographic Economics
- I3 - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty