ECON 499 – Data and Potential Topics

Area: Health Economics

Potential Topics:

· What is the effect of health insurance on medical spending?

· What is the relationship between health insurance and self-reported physical or mental health?

· Does health care usage affect physical or mental health?

· How does employment status relate to health insurance and self-reported health?

· For low income people, does Medicaid affect medical spending relative to private insurance or no insurance?

Data from the 2019 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey [meps.csv]

Description of variables [meps.txt]

Area: Labor Economics

Potential Topics:

· What is the effect of disability on income?

· What is the effect of education on income?

· What is the effect of marital status on employment activity?

Data from the 2023 Current Population Survey [cps.csv]

Description of variables [cps.txt]

Area: Macroeconomics

Potential Topics:

· What factors correlate with faster (or slower) growth?

· How does inflation influence consumer spending?

· What is the relationship between stock market performance and economic growth?

· Do tax policies affect macroeconomic measures?

Data from the Federal Reserve [link]