Did college student travel over spring break contribute to the spread of COVID-19? We find that counties with more student spring break travel, as identified by spring break timing, had higher growth rates of COVID-19 confirmed cases and mortality.
I am a research economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. My research is focused on consumer and household finance, education policy, federal financial aid, and student loans. I also study issues in urban economics and health economics.
Research Highlights
What is the impact of more taxis on the road on localized congestion? We find that increasing the supply of taxis in New York City slowed travel times by 8-9%. We combine our estimates with car counts from satellite images to calculate that the expansion of for-hire vehicles accounts for over 60% of the slowdown in Midtown Manhattan between 2013 to 2016.
Does requiring students to learn personal finance topics improve student loan repayment? I find that state mandated personal finance education during high school improves federal student loan repayment after college for first-generation and low-income students at public universities.
What happens to test scores when food insecurity is relieved for elementary school children? I investigate an intervention which provided food over the course of the weekend to students attending school in the Mississippi Delta. I find that the intervention improved both math and language arts test scores and attendance.