Two new publications from Economics faculty are out this month.
Associate Professor Mindy Marks and co-author Tomer Stern have a new article in the Journal of Human Resources, “Teacher Testing Standards and the New Teacher Pipeline.” The study finds that higher entry standards for teacher training programs sharply reduce enrollments, graduations, and new teacher licenses — with the average standards increase linked to a 9% drop in program graduates.
Professor Alicia Modestino, along with co-authors Gary J. Young, Mahmudul Hasan, Jiesheng Shi, and Noor E. Alam, has a new article in PLOS ONE, “Why Are Massachusetts Opioid Prescribing Rates Higher in Rural Versus Urban Areas?” The research examines both supply- and demand-side factors driving higher opioid prescription rates in non-metropolitan areas, finding that working conditions and the local healthcare delivery system interact in ways that could inform more targeted interventions.
