Veronika Dolar

Toward a quantitative theory of food consumption choices and body weight

We propose a calibrated dynamic model of food consumption choices and body weight to study changes in daily caloric intake, weight, and the away-from-home share of calories consumed by adult men and women in the U.S. during the period between 1971 and 2006. Calibration reveals substantial preference heterogeneity between men and women. For example, utility losses stemming from weight gains are ten times greater for women compared to men. Counterfactual experiments show that changes in food prices and household income account for half of the increase in weight of adult men, but only a small fraction of womens weight. We argue that quantitative models of food consumption choices and body weight have a unique role to play in future research in the economics of obesity.

A comparative analysis of vaccine administration in urban and non-urban skilled nursing facilities

BackgroundThe U.S. population is aging at an unprecedented rate, resulting in an increased demand for skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) and long-term care. Residents of these facilities are at a high risk for pneumococcal disease or severe influenza-related illnesses and death. For these reasons, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services use influenza and pneumococcal vaccination rates as a quality measure in the assessment of SNFs, as complications related to these infections increase morbidity and mortality rates.MethodsDisparities have been reported amongst vaccination with increased rates in urban areas as compared to their non-urban counterparts. Statistical analyses were performed to compare influenza and pneumococcal vaccination in urban and non-urban SNFs to determine variables that may influence vaccination status.ResultsOf the 15,639 nursing homes included in the study, 10,107 were in urban areas, while 5532 were considered non-urban. We found the percent of eligible and willing residents with up-to-date influenza and pneumococcal vaccinations increased with overall five-star ratings of SNFs. Somewhat paradoxically, although urban SNFs had higher mean overall five-star ratings, they showed lower rates of influenza and pneumococcal vaccination compared to non-urban SNFs. Ordinary least squares regression analysis comparing overall ratings, type of ownership, and geographic location by region yielded statistically significant results in which the overall rating, ownership-type and certificate-type favored urban SNFs (p < 0.001).ConclusionsThis is the first systematic and comparative analysis to use the Nursing Home Compare database to assess vaccine administration of urban and non-urban SNFs. The findings of this study may be used to encourage the development of programs to improve vaccination rates and the quality of care in these facilities.

Correlations between quality ratings of skilled nursing facilities and multidrug-resistant urinary tract infections

BACKGROUND The purpose of this study was to determine risk factors for the acquisition of urinary tract infections (UTIs) and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) in residents of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). METHODS Using the informational database provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), a retrospective logistic regression was performed on 1,523 urine cultures from 12 SNFs located in Long Island, New York. RESULTS Of the 1,142 positive urine cultures, Escherichia coli was most prevalent. Additionally, 164 (14.4%) of the UTIs were attributed to an MDRO. In multivariate logistic regression, sex and overall quality rating predicted the occurrence of UTIs, whereas identification of MDROs was dependent on the level of nursing care received. The mean predicted probability of UTIs and receipt of contaminated samples was inversely dependent on the facilitys rating, where the likelihood increased as overall quality ratings decreased. CONCLUSIONS The CMSs quality rating system may provide some insight into the status of infection control practices in SNFs. The results of this study suggest that potential consumers should focus on the overall star ratings and the competency of the nursing staff in these facilities rather than on individual quality measures.

The treatment of minimum wage in undergraduate economics textbooks revisited

The discussion about how economics is taught in undergraduate courses is becoming more topical and professors have recently been accused of preaching free-market fundamentalism. In this paper, I review the coverage of the minimum wage in Principles of Economics textbooks to determine whether the aforementioned criticism of free-market fundamentalism applies. Staying within the contours of neoclassical paradigm I propose some examples to present new implications of the minimum wage that are rarely discussed in current textbooks. I provide a richer framework that highlights the effect of the minimum wage in a more nuanced way and discuss the consequences of the minimum wage laws that reach beyond the basic supply-demand diagram. Hopefully, this more comprehensive treatment of the minimum wage topic also helps students develop critical thinking and put to rest criticism that professors teach economics in undergraduate courses as a settled science. In addition, this paper can serve as a blueprint for economics instructors on how to teach the topic of minimum wage laws in their own classes.

What Does the Minimum Wage Do

No abstract available.

Are We Teaching Outside the Box? A National Survey on Teaching the Minimum Wage in Undergraduate Economics Classes

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to study how professors in the US teach about the minimum wage. Results of a survey suggest that almost all instructors cover the topic of minimum wage in their introductory courses and tend to cover this topic in a similar manner to how it is covered in introductory textbooks: by focusing on the employment effects of the minimum wage in the neoclassical model. In addition, instructors have relatively conservative views about the minimum wage effect and tend to agree that the minimum wage negatively impacts low-skilled workers. Finally, there seems to be a small “liberal bias” where instructors who are in favor of the minimum wage are less likely to teach the standard labor supply-demand model, and a larger “conservative bias” where instructors who tend to believe in the negative impact of a minimum wage are less likely to discuss the assumption of monopsony in the labor market.

Blending better beverage options: a nutrition education and experiential workshop for youths.

Objective. To reduce intake of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) in youths as a means to reduce obesity risk. Methods. Youths 5–14 years old attending a summer program were given a two-hour workshop addressing the sugar content in SSBs, the health risks from drinking SSBs, and hands-on preparation as well as tastings of low-sugar beverage alternatives. Data on usual intake of SSBs was obtained at baseline, and pre- and postprogram surveys were conducted to gauge change in knowledge and/or attitudes regarding SSBs. Results. There were 128 participants (63% male) in the program. SSBs were commonly consumed with over 80% reporting regular consumption (mean daily intake 17.9 ounces). Significant increase in knowledge regarding the sugar content of commonly consumed SSBs was achieved; however change in attitudes was not significant. The large majority of youths reported enjoying the workshop and intention to reduce intake of SSBs following program participation. Conclusion. SSBs are commonly consumed by youths. Knowledge regarding the sugar content of SSBs is easier to impart to youths than influencing attitudes held about these beverages. Long-term interventions that reach out to parents and address the widespread availability of SSBs are needed to influence resistant attitudes and beverage choosing behaviors in youths.

The Treatment of Minimum Wage in Principles of Economics Textbooks Revisited

Following the Global Occupy movement and the Great Recession of 2008-09, the discussion of how economics is taught in undergraduate courses has become more topical with two main themes emerging. Students at prominent universities complain that professors preach free-market fundamentalism in first-year economics courses, while researchers have warned against the dangers of teaching economics as a settled science in undergraduate courses. We review the coverage of minimum wage policy in the Principles of Economics textbooks to determine whether the aforementioned criticism of free-market fundamentalism applies to the minimum wage topic. Most textbooks show that the minimum wage creates unemployment among unskilled workers and cite the empirical results of a survey paper by Brown et al. (1982) that a 10 percent rise in the minimum wage leads to a 1 to 3 percent increase in unemployment among teenagers. We propose three simple examples to present new implications of the minimum wage that are rarely discussed in current textbooks. Our goal is to provide a richer framework that highlights the effects of the minimum wage in a more nuanced way and help students develop critical thinking skills. A secondary goal is to put to rest the criticism that full-time professors teach economics as a settled science in undergraduate courses.