Research Projects
Katherine's recent research has focused on areas of climate change related disaster and risk management, though she has also worked on projects related to energy efficiency, dynamic energy pricing, and vehicle emissions regulations. Broadly, Katherine uses econometric methods for causal identification, incorporating simulation and non-parametric methods as needed. Below you'll find a sample of her research experience.
Catastrophe Bond Market & Measuring Risk
Using data from the catastrophe bond market, this project measures the causal changes in expected losses and risk premiums in the bond market as a result of devastating weather events. The estimates show evidence of short to medium-term updating in this relatively well informed market.
Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Finance
Within this topic, the first project explores the impact of aid on the infant mortality rate of developing countries in the wake of weather-related disasters. The second project looks at changes in infrastructure investment after state agencies take out insurance-related instruments for disaster risk.
Energy Efficiency and Preferences in the Durable Goods Market
Data from the energy efficiency durable goods market in Japan was used to study the impact of changes in the Energy-Saving Labeling Program on consumer and manufacturer choice and competition.
Welfare Simulation of Dynamic Pricing with Distributed Generation
Using ComEd hourly data of energy usage, wholesale price, and retail price, I constructed a demand model and simulated changes in surplus as a result of a shift from net metering pricing to hourly wholesale pricing for a distributed generation consumer.
Vehicle Emissions & Impact of EPA Regulations
Comparing EPA models of the relationship between vehicle emissions and vehicle miles traveled to actual ex-post data, this project used an extensive CA Air Resources Board dataset to explore the accuracy of the Regulatory Impact Analysis done for Federal Tier 2 Emissions Standards for light duty vehicles.
Tax Increment Financing and the Great Recession
Tax increment financing (TIF) allocates future property tax growth to promote local real estate development and is thus particularly vulnerable to real estate market shocks. Data on the growth of TIF increments before, during, and after the recession is examined for Illinois and Nebraska.
(Published under my maiden name, Katherine Goulde)
Cost Analysis of Urban Heat Wave
As part of the BRACE-IL project, this research estimated the mortality, morbidity, and economic cost of the 1995 Chicago Heat Wave using Illinois hospital discharge data and American Community Survey data. Careful attention was paid to the distributional impacts by ethnicity and socioeconomic status. The research also extrapolated the cost to future heat waves accounting for adaptation and population change.