Michael Conlin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Michael Conlin
Journal of Labor Economics, 2000
Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we... more Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we estimate the financial value of a month of marriage. Specifically, the law provides that widows who are eligible for Social Security benefits on their deceased spouse's earnings records are eligible for benefits at age 60, unless they remarry before that age. If they remarry before that age, they cannot claim widow benefits and must wait until at least age 62 to claim spousal benefits on their new husband's record, which are typically less generous than widow benefits. To generate an estimate of what this behavior implies about the value of marriage, we use data from five panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation linked to administrative data from Social Security. We estimate the cost of marrying before age 60 imposed by the Social Security program. We develop a model that reflects the institutional details of Social Security and generate a likelihood function that reflects that model. By taking advantage of the variation in these costs and when or whether widows remarry before age 60, we estimate the benefit of marriage to be $8000/month. These estimates appear to be reasonable estimates in the context of the short length of time widows are willing to wait and the high value of Social Security benefits.
Journal of Law and Economics, 2005
... The idea that the threat of sanction induces players' cooperation is not new. In the fra... more ... The idea that the threat of sanction induces players' cooperation is not new. In the framework of repeated tariff setting, Dixit (1987) appeals to a trigger strategy to show that countries can sustain liberalized trade with low tariffs. Although his theory successfully ex-...
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000
Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we... more Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we estimate the financial value of a month of marriage. Specifically, the law provides that widows who eligible for Social Security benefits on their deceased spouse's earnings records are eligible for benefits at age 60, unless they remarry before that age. If they remarry before that age, they cannot claim widow benefits and must wait until at least age 62 to claim spousal benefits on their new husband's record, which are typically less generous than widow benefits. To generate an estimate of what this behavior implies about the value of marriage, we use data from five panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation linked to administrative data from Social Security. We estimate the cost of marrying before age 60 imposed by the Social Security program. We develop a model that reflects the institutional details of Social Security and generate a likelihood function that reflects that model. By taking advantage of the variation in these costs and when or whether widows remarry, we estimate the benefit of marriage to be approximately $5000 per month. These appear to be reasonable estimates in the context of the short length of time widows are willing to wait and the high value of Social Security benefits.
Transplantation, 1998
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common problem with potentially devastating results in patients... more Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common problem with potentially devastating results in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. Certain renal transplant recipients are particularly at risk for allograft loss as a consequence of renal vein and artery thrombosis. Over the past few years, low molecular weight heparin has been well established as an accepted modality of treatment and prophylaxis of DVT. The efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin in the prophylaxis of DVT following renal transplantation in adults has not previously been reported. Dalteparin was administered to 120 adult renal transplant recipients postoperatively at the Oregon Health Sciences University. No patient developed allograft arterial or venous thrombosis. One patient developed subclavian vein thrombosis. No bleeding complications were encountered, and side effects were very minimal. Prophylaxis with dalteparin is an effective and safe modality for the prevention of thrombosis in adult patients undergoing renal transplantation.
Review of Economics and Statistics, 2009
ABSTRACT To control the deer population, state game commissions regulate the types of deer that c... more ABSTRACT To control the deer population, state game commissions regulate the types of deer that can be legally harvested. These regulations, however, might have an unintended effect on hunting-related accidents by changing the care hunters take when firing their rifles-a moral hazard effect-or changing the composition of hunters. Using detailed data on hunting accidents and regulations in Pennsylvania counties from 1990 to 2005, we find compelling evidence that harvesting restrictions increase the care hunters take in a manner consistent with moral hazard. Thus, these regulations have a positive safety externality. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Journal of Law and Economics, 2005
LEXISNEXIS SUMMARY: ... GOVERNMENT policies in the United States have long sought to regulate the... more LEXISNEXIS SUMMARY: ... GOVERNMENT policies in the United States have long sought to regulate the consumption of goods or services that are perceived to either be or lead to behavior that is "sinful." ... The empirical literature finds that these types of access restrictions ...
The Journal of Urology, 1995
Journal of Labor Economics, 2000
Journal of Health Economics, 2001
Using detailed panel data on local alcohol policy changes in Texas, this paper tests whether the ... more Using detailed panel data on local alcohol policy changes in Texas, this paper tests whether the effect of these changes on alcohol-related accidents depends on whether the policy change involves where the alcohol is consumed and the type of alcohol consumed. After controlling for both county and year fixed effects, we find evidence that: (i) the sale of beer and wine may actually decrease expected accidents; and (ii) the sale of higher alcohol-content liquor may present greater risk to highway safety than the sale of just beer and wine.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2003
Using survey data, we identify a variety of factors that influence tipping behavior and in the pr... more Using survey data, we identify a variety of factors that influence tipping behavior and in the process lay out a simple theoretical framework to help to interpret our empirical observations. We first investigate the efficiency of observed tipping behavior. While there are elements of efficiencynotably, percent tip depends on service quality-it does not appear fully efficient. We then posit a model in which customers trade off material well-being against disutility from not adhering to the norm, and we use this model to reinterpret initial empirical findings and make additional empirical predictions.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2013
This paper investigates how outside ranking organizations such as U.S. News and World Report affe... more This paper investigates how outside ranking organizations such as U.S. News and World Report affect colleges' admission decisions. To do this, we focus on a policy that has received criticism for being motivated by ranking concerns: optional reporting of SAT I scores. This policy allows colleges to report an average SAT I score based on those applicants who chose to submit their scores which may not be reflective of actual student body quality. We use proprietary data from two liberal arts colleges to address how the optional reporting policy affects the colleges' admission decisions as well as how applicants' SAT I scores influence their decision to submit these scores to the colleges. The data suggest that college admission departments are behaving strategically by rewarding applicants who do submit their SAT I scores when their scores will raise the college's average SAT I score reported to U.S. News and World Report and rewarding applicants who do not submit when their SAT I scores will lower the college's reported score. The data also suggest that applicants are behaving strategically by choosing not to reveal their SAT I scores if they are below a value one might predict based on their other observable characteristics.
BJU International, 2013
1 Tadros NN, Bland L, Legg E, Olyaei A, Conlin MJ. A single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflamma... more 1 Tadros NN, Bland L, Legg E, Olyaei A, Conlin MJ. A single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prevents severe pain after ureteric stent removal: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BJU Int 2013; 111: 101-5 2 Nazim SM, Ather MH. Alpha-blockers impact stent-related symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Endourol 2012; 26: 1237-41 3 Beddingfield R, Pedro RN, Hinck B, Kreidberg C, Feia K, Monga M. Alfuzosin to relieve ureteral stent discomfort: a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled study. J Urol 2009; 181: 170-6 4 Yakoubi R, Lemdani M, Monga M, Villers A, Koenig P. Is there a role for a-blockers in ureteral stent related symptoms? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sexual dysfunctions are conditions in which the ordinary physical responses of sexual function are impaired. The study of the functions of the human body must be made in the subject: questionnaires for male ejaculation and female orgasm must too assess masturbation [7]. References 1 Byun JS, Lyu SW, Seok HH, Kim WJ, Shim SH, Bak CW. Sexual dysfunctions induced by stress of timed intercourse and medical treatment.
Journal of Labor Economics, 2000
Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we... more Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we estimate the financial value of a month of marriage. Specifically, the law provides that widows who are eligible for Social Security benefits on their deceased spouse's earnings records are eligible for benefits at age 60, unless they remarry before that age. If they remarry before that age, they cannot claim widow benefits and must wait until at least age 62 to claim spousal benefits on their new husband's record, which are typically less generous than widow benefits. To generate an estimate of what this behavior implies about the value of marriage, we use data from five panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation linked to administrative data from Social Security. We estimate the cost of marrying before age 60 imposed by the Social Security program. We develop a model that reflects the institutional details of Social Security and generate a likelihood function that reflects that model. By taking advantage of the variation in these costs and when or whether widows remarry before age 60, we estimate the benefit of marriage to be $8000/month. These estimates appear to be reasonable estimates in the context of the short length of time widows are willing to wait and the high value of Social Security benefits.
Journal of Law and Economics, 2005
... The idea that the threat of sanction induces players' cooperation is not new. In the fra... more ... The idea that the threat of sanction induces players' cooperation is not new. In the framework of repeated tariff setting, Dixit (1987) appeals to a trigger strategy to show that countries can sustain liberalized trade with low tariffs. Although his theory successfully ex-...
SSRN Electronic Journal, 2000
Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we... more Using a law within Social Security that provides clear financial incentives to delay marriage, we estimate the financial value of a month of marriage. Specifically, the law provides that widows who eligible for Social Security benefits on their deceased spouse's earnings records are eligible for benefits at age 60, unless they remarry before that age. If they remarry before that age, they cannot claim widow benefits and must wait until at least age 62 to claim spousal benefits on their new husband's record, which are typically less generous than widow benefits. To generate an estimate of what this behavior implies about the value of marriage, we use data from five panels of the Survey of Income and Program Participation linked to administrative data from Social Security. We estimate the cost of marrying before age 60 imposed by the Social Security program. We develop a model that reflects the institutional details of Social Security and generate a likelihood function that reflects that model. By taking advantage of the variation in these costs and when or whether widows remarry, we estimate the benefit of marriage to be approximately $5000 per month. These appear to be reasonable estimates in the context of the short length of time widows are willing to wait and the high value of Social Security benefits.
Transplantation, 1998
Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common problem with potentially devastating results in patients... more Deep venous thrombosis (DVT) is a common problem with potentially devastating results in patients undergoing major surgical procedures. Certain renal transplant recipients are particularly at risk for allograft loss as a consequence of renal vein and artery thrombosis. Over the past few years, low molecular weight heparin has been well established as an accepted modality of treatment and prophylaxis of DVT. The efficacy and safety of low molecular weight heparin in the prophylaxis of DVT following renal transplantation in adults has not previously been reported. Dalteparin was administered to 120 adult renal transplant recipients postoperatively at the Oregon Health Sciences University. No patient developed allograft arterial or venous thrombosis. One patient developed subclavian vein thrombosis. No bleeding complications were encountered, and side effects were very minimal. Prophylaxis with dalteparin is an effective and safe modality for the prevention of thrombosis in adult patients undergoing renal transplantation.
Review of Economics and Statistics, 2009
ABSTRACT To control the deer population, state game commissions regulate the types of deer that c... more ABSTRACT To control the deer population, state game commissions regulate the types of deer that can be legally harvested. These regulations, however, might have an unintended effect on hunting-related accidents by changing the care hunters take when firing their rifles-a moral hazard effect-or changing the composition of hunters. Using detailed data on hunting accidents and regulations in Pennsylvania counties from 1990 to 2005, we find compelling evidence that harvesting restrictions increase the care hunters take in a manner consistent with moral hazard. Thus, these regulations have a positive safety externality. Copyright by the President and Fellows of Harvard College and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Journal of Law and Economics, 2005
LEXISNEXIS SUMMARY: ... GOVERNMENT policies in the United States have long sought to regulate the... more LEXISNEXIS SUMMARY: ... GOVERNMENT policies in the United States have long sought to regulate the consumption of goods or services that are perceived to either be or lead to behavior that is "sinful." ... The empirical literature finds that these types of access restrictions ...
The Journal of Urology, 1995
Journal of Labor Economics, 2000
Journal of Health Economics, 2001
Using detailed panel data on local alcohol policy changes in Texas, this paper tests whether the ... more Using detailed panel data on local alcohol policy changes in Texas, this paper tests whether the effect of these changes on alcohol-related accidents depends on whether the policy change involves where the alcohol is consumed and the type of alcohol consumed. After controlling for both county and year fixed effects, we find evidence that: (i) the sale of beer and wine may actually decrease expected accidents; and (ii) the sale of higher alcohol-content liquor may present greater risk to highway safety than the sale of just beer and wine.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2003
Using survey data, we identify a variety of factors that influence tipping behavior and in the pr... more Using survey data, we identify a variety of factors that influence tipping behavior and in the process lay out a simple theoretical framework to help to interpret our empirical observations. We first investigate the efficiency of observed tipping behavior. While there are elements of efficiencynotably, percent tip depends on service quality-it does not appear fully efficient. We then posit a model in which customers trade off material well-being against disutility from not adhering to the norm, and we use this model to reinterpret initial empirical findings and make additional empirical predictions.
Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 2013
This paper investigates how outside ranking organizations such as U.S. News and World Report affe... more This paper investigates how outside ranking organizations such as U.S. News and World Report affect colleges' admission decisions. To do this, we focus on a policy that has received criticism for being motivated by ranking concerns: optional reporting of SAT I scores. This policy allows colleges to report an average SAT I score based on those applicants who chose to submit their scores which may not be reflective of actual student body quality. We use proprietary data from two liberal arts colleges to address how the optional reporting policy affects the colleges' admission decisions as well as how applicants' SAT I scores influence their decision to submit these scores to the colleges. The data suggest that college admission departments are behaving strategically by rewarding applicants who do submit their SAT I scores when their scores will raise the college's average SAT I score reported to U.S. News and World Report and rewarding applicants who do not submit when their SAT I scores will lower the college's reported score. The data also suggest that applicants are behaving strategically by choosing not to reveal their SAT I scores if they are below a value one might predict based on their other observable characteristics.
BJU International, 2013
1 Tadros NN, Bland L, Legg E, Olyaei A, Conlin MJ. A single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflamma... more 1 Tadros NN, Bland L, Legg E, Olyaei A, Conlin MJ. A single dose of a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prevents severe pain after ureteric stent removal: a prospective, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. BJU Int 2013; 111: 101-5 2 Nazim SM, Ather MH. Alpha-blockers impact stent-related symptoms: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. J Endourol 2012; 26: 1237-41 3 Beddingfield R, Pedro RN, Hinck B, Kreidberg C, Feia K, Monga M. Alfuzosin to relieve ureteral stent discomfort: a prospective, randomized, placebo controlled study. J Urol 2009; 181: 170-6 4 Yakoubi R, Lemdani M, Monga M, Villers A, Koenig P. Is there a role for a-blockers in ureteral stent related symptoms? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sexual dysfunctions are conditions in which the ordinary physical responses of sexual function are impaired. The study of the functions of the human body must be made in the subject: questionnaires for male ejaculation and female orgasm must too assess masturbation [7]. References 1 Byun JS, Lyu SW, Seok HH, Kim WJ, Shim SH, Bak CW. Sexual dysfunctions induced by stress of timed intercourse and medical treatment.