Otto Lenhart
1349 Skylark Drive, Decatur, GA, 30033, USA
Phone: +1 (404) 565-3080 | Fax: (404) 727-4639 | Email: otto.lenhart@emory.edu
http://economics.emory.edu/home/people/Students/lenhart-otto.html
Education:
Ph.D. in Economics, Emory University, May 2016 (expected)
Dissertation Title: New Evidence on the Relationship between Income and Health
B.A. in Economics and Finance, cum laude, Valdosta State University, May 2011
Fields: Health Economics, Labor Economics, Public Economics
Working Papers:
 “The Effect of EITC Expansion on Health: A Different Approach to the Income Gradient
in Health” (under review at: American Journal of Health Economics)

“The Role of Economic Shocks on Health: Evidence from German Reunification” (under
review at: Health Economics)

“Do Higher Minimum Wages Benefit Health? Evidence from the UK”

“The Effect of Health Insurance Mandate on Labor Market Activity and Time Allocation:
Evidence from the Federal Dependent Coverage Provision” (with Vinish Shrestha, under
review at: Journal of Policy Analysis and Management)

“The Role of Economic Conditions on Health-Related Time Use: Evidence from the
American Time Use Survey”

“Parental Leave Benefits and Maternal Health: Evidence from a German Reform”

“The Impact of Minimum Wages on Population Health: A Comparison across OECD
Countries and US States”

“Changes in Time Use after the German Reunification”

“The Effects of Health Shocks on Income: Evidence for Reverse Causality?
Presentations:
Poster Session American Economic Association Annual Meeting
San Francisco, CA
Southern Economic Association Annual Meetings
New Orleans, LA
2nd SDU Workshop on Applied Microeconomics
Southern Denmark University (invited)
Workshop on Research Design for Causal Inference
Northwestern University, IL (invited)
Micro Lunch Presentations
Department of Economics, Emory University
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January, 2016 (scheduled)
November 2015 (scheduled)
June 2015
July 2014
2013, 2014 and 2015
Relevant Work Experience:
Emory University, Department of Economics
Instructor, Principles of Microeconomics (Summer 2013, 2015 and Fall 2014, 2015)
Teaching Assistant, Principles of Macroeconomics (Spring 2015, 140 Undergraduates)
Teaching Assistant, Principles of Microeconomics (2012-2014, 160 Undergraduates)
Awards and Fellowships:
Academic Awards:
Graduate Student Research Award of Excellence
Emory University, Economics Department of Economics
Woodruff Fellowship
Laney Graduate School, Emory University
Economics Student of the Year
Valdosta State University
Dean’s List
Valdosta State University
Athletic Awards:
NCAA DII National Tennis Champion
Valdosta State University
Outstanding Male Student Academic Athlete of the Year
Valdosta State University
All-American Student Athlete
Valdosta State University
2015
2011 - Present
2010
2008 - 2011
2011
2010
2010
Professional Activities and Skills:
Professional activities:
Referee: Southern Economic Journal
Technical Skills:
STATA, R, SAS
Other Activities:
Tutor for Undergraduate Economics Courses at Emory University (2014 - present)
Coach for International Community School, under-10 soccer team (2014 - present)
Member of Inter Atlanta Soccer Team
References:
Dr. Sara Markowitz (Chair)
Department of Economics
Emory University
(404) 727-4679
smarko2@emory.edu
Dr. Andrew Francis-Tan
Department of Economics
Emory University
(404) 727-1381
andrew.francis@emory.edu
Dr. Hugo Mialon
Department of Economics
Emory University
(404) 727-0355
hmialon@emory.edu
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Dr. Ian McCarthy
Department of Economics
Emory University
(404) 727-8808
ian.mccarthy@emory.edu
Abstracts:
“The Effect of EITC Expansion on Health: A Different Approach to the Income Gradient
in Health” (Job Market Paper)
This study investigates the validity of previous findings of a positive relationship between
income and health outcomes. This paper differs from previous studies in three ways. First, it
directly accounts for potential income endogeneity by using exogenous variations of income in
order to estimate the effects on changes in health. The source of income variation for this study
comes from expansions in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) through OBRA 1993, which
significantly altered benefits to lower-income families with at least two children compared to
those with one child. I exploit this policy change by estimating a Difference-in-Difference model
to examine the impact of receiving additional cash assistance on health outcomes of heads of
households. Second, this study attempts to offer a more accurate identification of affected
individuals by obtaining simulated EITC benefits for all households rather than by using
education as the main criterion for treatment assignment. I find that the expansion had positive
effects on health, especially when looking at health outcomes a few years after the
implementations of the reform. Third, this study provides evidence that higher take-up rate of
insurance, especially of private insurance, as well as higher food expenditures are potential
mechanisms underlying the income gradient in health.
“The Role of Economic Shocks on Health: Evidence from German Reunification”
This study advances the literature on the effects of economic changes on health outcomes.
Previous work has not been able to establish a consensus on how health is impacted during
economic fluctuations. The paper investigates the relationship between the dramatic economic
variations following the reunification of East and West Germany in 1990 and a number of
health-related outcomes throughout the early 1990s. The study finds that economic downturns
are significantly associated with a worsening of health satisfaction, whereas the findings remain
consistent for several additional measures of health. The health impacts are found to be larger for
individuals in East Germany, who were confronted with larger increases of unemployment rates,
as well as for lower-income people and those who became unemployed shortly after
reunification. When examining potential channels explaining the observed health declines
following economic fluctuations, the study finds that individuals reduce the frequency with
which they exercise, are less satisfied with income, leisure as well as life overall, while reporting
higher level of economic uncertainty about the future.
“Do Higher Minimum Wages Benefits Health? Evidence from the UK”
This study examines the association between minimum wages and health outcomes. In order to
provide evidence for a causal link, I exploit the introduction of the National Minimum Wage in
the United Kingdom on April 1st, 1999, as an exogenous variation of wages. I exploit the policy
change by estimating Difference-in-Differences models to examine the impact of wage increases
on health. I find that the NMW significantly improved a number of health measures such as selfreported health status and whether individuals suffer from a number of health conditions.
Furthermore, the study shows that the reform did not impact working hours, which is consistent
with previous findings and suggests that the observed health improvements are the results of
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higher earnings. When testing for potential mechanisms, I find that leisure expenditures and
leisure activities as well as financial well-being could explain the changes in health.
“The Effect of Health Insurance Mandate on Labor Market Activity and Time Allocation:
Evidence from the Federal Dependent Coverage Provision”
The federal dependent coverage, a part of the Affordable Care Act, went into effect in September
2010. Using data from the American Time Use Survey from 2008 to 2013 and implementing
difference in difference models, this paper evaluates the effect of the federal mandate on labor
market outcomes and time allocation among young adults. We find that young adults reduce
their labor supply both on the intensive and extensive margin in response to the dependent
coverage. Specifically, we show that the federal mandate reduces weekly market work time by
259 minutes, which corresponds to an 18% change compared to before the policy change. The
study finds that 61% of this forgone market work time is reallocated toward leisure activities,
especially toward increases in watching TV. We provide suggestive evidence for the presence of
ex-ante moral hazard by showing that the dependent coverage mandate reduces time spent on
health by young adult. Through a number of additional specifications, we isolate the effects of
the federal mandate from potential labor market effects of the Great Recession and find that the
main findings remain consistent. Finally, we find that the effect of the federal mandate is
stronger in states that did not provide state-level dependent coverage mandates prior to 2010.
“Parental Leave Benefits and Maternal Health: Evidence from a German Reform”
This paper examines the causal link between parental leave benefits on maternal health
outcomes. The exogenous source of variation in benefits comes from the introduction of an
earnings-related parental allowance (Elterngeld) on January 1st 2007, which replaced the
previous means-tested subsidy which was restricted to only a small group of parents. I exploit
this policy setting by estimating both Difference-in-Differences and Regression Discontinuity
models to test for the impact of receiving more generous maternal benefits on short-term
maternal health outcomes. The study provides evidence for significant improvements in selfreported health for mothers who are able to benefit from the more generous subsidy.
Furthermore, the findings report evidence for heterogeneous effects of the policy by showing that
health improvements are stronger for mothers with higher education, those who worked full-time
before giving birth as well as for women living in West Germany. When investigating potential
channels through which the reform could impact maternal health, I find evidence for
improvements in psychological well-being as well as in health behaviors such as smoking and
drinking following the implementation of more generous parental leave benefits.
“The Role of Economic Conditions on Health-Related Time Use: Evidence from the
American Time Use Survey”
This study advances the previously divided literature regarding the relationship between
economic downturns and health outcomes by examining the role of health-related time use as a
potential mechanism underlying the association. By using all available waves of the American
Time Use Survey (ATUS) for the years 2003 to 2013, the analysis tests whether variations in
state unemployment rates impact the amount of time individuals spend on their own health. I find
that health-related time use increased by around 21 minutes per week in response to the sudden
economic changes that followed the start of the Great Recession in the US. The study shows that
changes in health behavior differ across population groups by finding substantial variation
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individuals with different employment and marital status, while increases in health-related
activities during economic downturns are found to be largest for individuals who are in poor
health initially. Furthermore, the findings provide suggestive evidence for negative health effects
of economic deteriorations. Finally, the paper shows that changes in leisure time can serve as a
potential mechanism through which economic fluctuations impact health outcomes by finding
evidence for decreases in leisure activities following economic shocks.
“The Impact of Minimum Wages on Population Health: A Comparison across OECD
Countries and US States”
This study examines the relationship between minimum wages and several measures of
population health between 2000 and 2009, both across 24 OECD countries and across US states.
The international analysis exploits within-country variations in the generosity of existing wage
floors, measured by the Kaitz index, whereas the US analysis uses variations in the real value of
minimum wages across states. The findings of the paper provide evidence for the presence of
significant aggregate health benefits as a result of higher minimum wages. Furthermore,
increases in wage floors are shown to reduce income inequalities within countries and states. By
testing potential health impacts of other policies, the study finds health improvements as a result
of increases in public social expenditures aiming at vulnerable population groups as well as of
higher marginal tax rates.
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