Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Ben Sprung-Keyser

@bsprungkeyser.bsky.social

670 followers 170 following 5 posts

Assistant Professor at Wharton, Business Economics and Public Policy. Co-Director at Policy Impacts

Videos

Economics 66%

Political science 12%

Posts Media Videos Starter Packs

Reposted by Lawrence F. Katz, Ben Sprung-Keyser

Lawrence Katz @lkatz42.bsky.social · Nov 16

Insightful and important analysis of the returns and costs of tax audits across the income distribution by Boning, Hendren, and Sprung-Keyser (@bsprungkeyser.bsky.social) now in the QJE (@qjeharvard.bsky.social)

The Quarterly Journal of Economics @qjeharvard.bsky.social · Nov 16

Recently accepted by #QJE, “A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution,” by Boning, Hendren, Sprung-Keyser (@bsprungkeyser.bsky.social), and Stuart: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...

A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution

Abstract. We estimate the returns to IRS audits of taxpayers across the income distribution. We find an additional ${\$}$1 spent auditing taxpayers above t

doi.org

1 12 42

Ben Sprung-Keyser @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social · Feb 7

Looking for a predoc position? I’m hiring!

Come work with me at Wharton. You will work on a variety of topics related to upward mobility, migration, and the effectiveness of government policy.

Apply by Feb 21: wd1.myworkdaysite.com/en-US/recrui...

Reposted by Lawrence F. Katz, Jacob Goldin, Ben Sprung-Keyser

The Quarterly Journal of Economics @qjeharvard.bsky.social · Jan 12

#QJE Feb 2025, #2, “A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution,” by Boning, Hendren, Sprung-Keyser (@bsprungkeyser.bsky.social), and Stuart: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...

A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution*

Abstract. We estimate the returns to IRS audits of taxpayers across the income distribution. We find an additional $1 spent auditing taxpayers above the 90

doi.org

1 6 10

Reposted by Matthew E. Kahn, Ben Sprung-Keyser

Joseph Shapiro @joseph-s-shapiro.bsky.social · Jan 1

Excited for Fri's
#ASSA2025 8am New Frontiers in Environmental Economics!

🌐 www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
🗺️ Room: Parc 55, Cyril Magnin 2
🔥 Trade, food, land, clean energy, bunching, air poll., MVPF, etc

w @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social @wolframschlenker.bsky.social @mattkahn1966.bsky.social et al

www.aeaweb.org

3 10

Reposted by Lawrence F. Katz, Klaus Prettner, Ari Hyytinen , and 3 more Lawrence F. Katz, Klaus Prettner, Ari Hyytinen, Pedro Gomes, Ben Sprung-Keyser, Andreas Haupt

The Quarterly Journal of Economics @qjeharvard.bsky.social · Nov 16

Recently accepted by #QJE, “A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution,” by Boning, Hendren, Sprung-Keyser (@bsprungkeyser.bsky.social), and Stuart: doi.org/10.1093/qje/...

A Welfare Analysis of Tax Audits Across the Income Distribution

Abstract. We estimate the returns to IRS audits of taxpayers across the income distribution. We find an additional ${\$}$1 spent auditing taxpayers above t

doi.org

3 32 90

Reposted by Ben Sprung-Keyser

Ben Lockwood @benlockwood.com · Sep 24

Great NYT op-ed from Raj Chetty today about the opportunity economy, citing awesome research from my colleague @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social (ungated link) www.nytimes.com/2024/09/20/o...

Opinion | Kamala Harris Has Proposed an ‘Opportunity Economy.’ This Is How to Make It a Reality.

What we can learn from the science of economic opportunity.

www.nytimes.com

9 20

Ben Sprung-Keyser @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social · Nov 2

Also be sure to check out these papers on the long-run effects of Medicaid

Brown, Kowalski, and Lurie 2020: academic.oup.com/restud/artic...

Goodman-Bacon 2021: www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...

Miller and Wherry 2018 jhr.uwpress.org/content/earl...

Wherry et al 2018 direct.mit.edu/rest/article...

Ben Sprung-Keyser @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social · Nov 2

For more on the welfare consequences of these policies, be sure to check out the Policy Impacts Library:

policyimpacts.org/policy-impac...

The Policy Impacts Library

This library provides a standardized database of MVPF estimates derived from rigorous empirical research. The details page for each policy provides an in-dept

policyimpacts.org

Ben Sprung-Keyser @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social · Nov 2

Our work, drawing upon estimates from Laura Wherry, Sarah Miller, Andrew Goodman-Bacon, and many others, suggests the long-term savings from these types of policies can offset much or all of their upfront costs. On average, $1 spent on medicaid for children saved $1.78 (cc: Nathan Hendren)

Ben Sprung-Keyser @bsprungkeyser.bsky.social · Nov 2

Awesome to see the CBO acknowledge the long-term impact of policy on both human capital development and government savings. This aligns with our findings at
@policyimpacts.bsky.social

www.cbo.gov/publication/...

Exploring the Effects of Medicaid During Childhood on the Economy and the Budget: Working Paper 2023...

On a present-value basis, CBO estimates that long-term fiscal effects of Medicaid spending on children could offset half or more of the program’s initial outlays, depending on sets of reasonable par...

www.cbo.gov

1 2