Muzhe Yang

Paid maternity leave and breastfeeding practice before and after California's implementation of the nation's first paid family leave program

California was the first state in the United States to implement a paid family leave (PFL) program in 2004. We use data from the Infant Feeding Practices Study to examine the changes in breastfeeding practices in California relative to other states before and after the implementation of PFL. We find an increase of 3-5 percentage points for exclusive breastfeeding and an increase of 10-20 percentage points for breastfeeding at several important markers of early infancy. Our study supports the recommendation of the Surgeon General to establish paid leave policies as a strategy for promoting breastfeeding.

Buy What Is Advertised on Television? Evidence from Bans on Child-Directed Food Advertising

The authors examine whether the Childrens Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative (CFBAI), the food industrys self-regulatory program that restricts child-directed advertising, has been effective in reducing childrens advertising exposure and in changing household purchasing behaviors. During 2006–2008, Hersheys, Mars, and Cadbury Adams implemented their CFBAI pledges. The current findings indicate that CFBAI implementation reduced purchasing frequency by households with children of Cadbury Adamss bubble gum (by 80%) but not Hersheys or Mars chocolate. This seems to have resulted from Cadbury Adamss eliminating advertising to all age groups, whereas children continued to be exposed at high levels to Hersheys and Mars chocolate advertising on general programs. The authors conclude that restricting (only) child-directed advertising may not effectively reduce advertising exposure to children, but reducing advertising exposure can significantly lessen household purchasing.

Crisis-induced depression, physical activity and dietary intake among young adults: Evidence from the 9/11 terrorist attacks

Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, we provide evidence that young adults respond to crisis-induced depression by exercising less and having breakfast less often. Exogenous variation in the crisis-induced depression is obtained through a unique event in our sample period - the 9/11 terrorist attacks. We compare those who were interviewed just before and just after 9/11 and find a significant and sharp increase in the symptoms of depression. We also provide evidence that this increase is not a September effect, but an effect of the external traumatic event.