University of Alberta, Canada, and IZA, Germany
IZA World of Labor role
Author
Current position
Associate Professor, Department of Economics, University of Alberta (2021-present)
Research interest
Labor economics, health economics, development economics
Website
Positions/functions as a policy advisor
Consultant, World Bank, Washington DC (2013-2015)
Past positions
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, University of Alberta (2016-2021)
Qualifications
PhD Applied Economics, University of Mayland, College Park, 2014
Selected publications
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“Socialized Healthcare and Women’s Fertility Decisions.” Journal of Human Resources 53:8 (2023): 1028-1055 (with E. Tekin, R. Cesur,and A.Ulker).
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“Labor Market Conditions and Adult Health in Mexico." Canadian Journal of Economics 55:1 (2022):106 - 137 (with M. Tsaneva).
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“Macroeconomic Conditions and Child Schooling Turkey." Labour Economics 63 (2020): 101809 (with B. U. Marchand).
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“The Value of Socialized Medicine: The Impact of Universal Primary Healthcare Provision on Mortality Rates in Turkey.” Journal of Public Economics 150 (2017): 75-93 (with E. Tekin, R. Cesur, and A. Ulker).
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"The Role of Maternal Education in Child Health: Evidence from a Compulsory Schooling Law." Economics of Education Review 47 (2015): 1-16.
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Female education and socioeconomic outcomes
Mothers'primary school completion significantly improves child and infant health and reduces teenage fertility
Pinar M Gunes, January 2025There is a strong link between mothers’ primary school completion (8 or more years of schooling) and better socioeconomic outcomes, such as improved child health and reduced teenage fertility, but establishing causality is challenging. A 1997 compulsory schooling law in Turkey, which extended education from five to eight years, provides a natural experiment to identify causal effects. Empirical evidence suggests that increased female education from such reform significantly improves many socioeconomic outcomes of mothers and their children. While suggested mechanisms include changes in healthcare services utilization and risky pregnancy behaviors, such as smoking, thorough investigation of underlying channels is lacking.MoreLess