UCLA

This dissertation comprises three essays at the intersection of public finance, labor economics,health, and economic history. In Chapter 1, co-authored with Tommy Morgan, we explore the impact of the Great Depression and the New Deal on longevity. Our analysis reveals that individuals, particularly young men in severely affected areas, experienced significant reductions in lifespan. Furthermore, we find that New Deal relief increased life expectancy of men by approximately one year. Chapter 2, co-authored with N�uria Mas and Carles Vergara- Alert, investigates the causal effects of changes in housing wealth on health outcomes and the drug crisis in the US, revealing positive implications of housing wealth shocks for self-reported health and mental well-being, emphasizing the importance of housing-related policies in addressing the opioid crisis. Chapter 3, co-authored with Tom�as Guanziroli, studies the factors behind the flattening of the college premium in Brazil, focusing on changes in the average quality of college graduates and their impact on wages. Our analysis reveals that the increased supply of college-educated workers originates from newer, lower-ranked universities with lower wage premiums. However, when considering a specific set of universities, we observe the college premium is still increasing, signaling a decline in degree quality and its association with lower average wages.