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Author: Teahan, Brittany A.
Resulting in 2 citations.
1. Lantis, Robert M.
Teahan, Brittany A.
The Effect of Unemployment Insurance on Alcohol Use and Abuse Following Job Loss
Economics and Human Biology 30 (September 2018): 92-103.
Also: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1570677X18300480
Cohort(s): NLSY79, NLSY97
Publisher: Elsevier
Keyword(s): Alcohol Use; Geocoded Data; State-Level Data/Policy; Unemployment; Unemployment Insurance

We investigate whether unemployment insurance (UI) policy affects the drinking behavior of the unemployed. Using NLSY data supplemented with Geocode data, we estimate the effect of benefit replacement rates on changes in individual alcohol consumption following job loss. Identification relies on variation in replacement rates across states and over time. Results indicate that a 100% increase in benefit replacement rate, roughly equivalent to a state moving from the lowest to the highest replacement rate, would, on average, result in unemployed individuals consuming 19.1 additional drinks a month. Looking at the change in an individual's binge drinking upon job loss, individuals receiving the highest level of benefits are 14.7% more likely to increase their binge drinking than those receiving the least generous benefits. We find that individuals' responsiveness to changes in replacement rates vary based on drinking history, industry labor market conditions, education, and age.
Bibliography Citation
Lantis, Robert M. and Brittany A. Teahan. "The Effect of Unemployment Insurance on Alcohol Use and Abuse Following Job Loss." Economics and Human Biology 30 (September 2018): 92-103.
2. Teahan, Brittany A.
Essays on Unemployment Insurance
Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Economics, Purdue University, 2014
Cohort(s): NLSY79, NLSY97
Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses (PQDT)
Keyword(s): Alcohol Use; Geocoded Data; Underemployment; Unemployment Insurance

Permission to reprint the abstract has not been received from the publisher.

In the third chapter, joint work with Robert Lantis, we investigate potential unintended consequences of unemployment insurance (UI) policy on alcohol use and abuse. Using NLSY data supplemented with Geocode data, we estimate the effect of benefit replacement rates on changes in individual alcohol consumption following job loss. Identification relies on variation in replacement rates across states and over time. Benefits provide income to the unemployed which enables individuals to smooth consumption and also may reduce the stress and anxiety of job loss. Results indicate higher levels of benefits increase the amount of alcohol unemployed individuals consume. Moreover, a higher level of benefits increases the likelihood an individual abuses alcohol following job loss. Individuals' responsiveness to changes in replacement rates varies based on drinking history with moderate drinkers the most responsive to changes.
Bibliography Citation
Teahan, Brittany A. Essays on Unemployment Insurance. Ph.D. Dissertation, Department of Economics, Purdue University, 2014.