economics research

my research traverses behavioral economics and IO predominantly in healthcare, in efforts to understand roles of information in decision-making

ongoing projects — behavioral economics

behavioral externalities of COVID-19 policy
with Yeşim Orhun (Ross School of Business)

estimating demand for ESRD incentive programs
with Andy Ryan (University of Michigan)

physician decision-making
with Yeşim Orhun (Ross School of Business) & Jeffrey Kullgren (Michigan Medicine)

decision-making in medical screening
with Benjamin Ho (Vassar College)
abstract

Empirical evidence has documented that certain populations avoid information in high-risk medical situations and resultantly do not undergo medical screening. Other cohorts pursue screening beyond medical guidelines and are exposed to greater harm, including over-treatment. We aim to study these disparate behaviors formally, using intertemporal, intrapersonal models of agent utility.

ongoing projects — IO

structural economist intern
at Amazon People eXperience Technology (PXT) Central Science (CS)

innovation in pharmaceutical and medical device markets
with Eric Parolin (University of Michigan)

understanding demand for ESRD incentive programs
with Andy Ryan (University of Michigan)

uptake of scientific innovation in respiratory disease (honors thesis)
with Frank Lichtenberg (Columbia Business School)
abstract

I estimate the effects of innovation on tangible health outcomes via bibliometric analysis. I investigate the relationship across a number of respiratory diseases between the long-run growth in cumulative research publication count and four indicators of tangible health outcome: (1) mortality rate, (2) length of hospitalization, (3) discharge rate, and (4) disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) rate.

My estimates indicate that mortality, hospitalization, and DALYs rates in a given year are weakly inversely related to growth in unsupported publications while discharge rate is positively related to growth in unsupported publications. This relationship appears to strengthen as the lagged effects of cumulative publication count are considered, especially in the time frame 6 to 11 years after publication. Counterintuitively, the relations between growth in supported publications and outcome variables tested are directionally opposite.

Future directions include exploring additional outcome variables, alternative proxies for biomedical innovation, and regional differences in production and uptake of medical innovation.

publications

1. Chopra Z. The Efficacy of Biomedical Research: A Bibliometric Analysis across Longitudinal Respiratory Disease (2019). Harvard College Economics Review.
2. Chopra Z. The Efficacy of Biomedical Research: A Bibliometric Analysis across Longitudinal Respiratory Disease Data (2019). Columbia Economic Review.

ongoing projects — health/labor

long-term implications of Medicaid eligibility
with Eric Parolin (University of Michigan)

exploring relationships to qualify differences in social determinants of health
with Sarah Miller (Ross School of Business)

optimizing drug cocktails for COVID-19 patients
with Jonathan Sexton (University of Michigan)
abstract

To date, no sure treatment is available for COVID-19 patients. Using a combination of wet lab techniques and econometric survival analyses, we aim to determine combinations of drugs that may prove safe and efficacious for COVID-19.

publications & contributions

full list

* denotes equal contribution