Biography:
Dr. Janet Currie is a Professor of Economics and Public Affairs at Princeton University and co-director of its Center for Health and Wellbeing. She also co-directs the Program on Families and Children at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER). Her research focuses on socioeconomic disparities in health and healthcare access, environmental health risks, mental health, and the long-term effects of health issues during pregnancy and early childhood.
Aside from her academic appointment, Dr. Currie has held numerous and notable leadership positions including president of the American Society of Health Economics, the Society of Labor Economists, the Eastern Economic Association, and the Western Economic Association, and vice president of the American Economic Association. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, the Society of Labor Economists, and the Econometric Society, and has received honorary degrees from institutions such as the University of Lyon and the University of Zurich. She has published in and served on editorial boards of leading journals, including the Journal of Economic Literature and the Quarterly Journal of Economics, and published extensively in other top academic journals.
Dr. Currie earned her B.A. and M.A. in Economics from the University of Toronto in 1982 and 1983, respectively, and completed her Ph.D. in Economics at Princeton University in 1988.
Student Lecture: 10 April 2025
Investing in Children to Address the Child Mental Health Crisis
The child mental health crisis has been described as the “defining public health crisis of our time.” This article addresses three myths about the crisis: 1) The idea that the crisis is new; 2) The belief that increases in youth suicide mainly reflect deterioration in children’s underlying mental health; 3) The myth that investments in children have little impact on children’s mental health. In fact, the crisis has existed for decades, youth suicides vary asynchronously with other mental health measures and are impacted by external factors such as firearms legislation, and investments can improve child mental health and prevent suicide.
Faculty Lecture: 11 April 2025
Clean Rides, Healthy Lives: The Impact of Electric Vehicle Adoption on Air Quality and Infant Health
The transition to electric vehicles (EVs) marks a pivotal shift in global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. While the environmental benefits of EVs are often discussed, their impact on air quality and public health, particularly for vulnerable populations such as infants, remains understudied. This study presents the first comprehensive nationwide analysis of the impact of EV adoption on air pollution and infant health outcomes in the United States. Using detailed county-level data on vehicle registrations, air pollution, and infant health between 2009 and 2021, we find that increased EV adoption significantly reduces concentrations of nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), key pollutants linked to vehicle emissions. Our analysis further demonstrates that these improvements in air quality yield significant health benefits, including reductions in adverse birth outcomes such as very low birthweight and very preterm births, as well as fewer respiratory-related emergency department visits among children aged 0–4 years. Furthermore, EV adoption leads to substantial reductions in various neonatal health complications, including admissions to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the use of assisted ventilation and surfactant therapy, and overall infant mortality. To address potential endogeneity in EV adoption, we employ an instrumental variable approach based on the strategic placement of EV charging stations along federally designated Alternative Fuel Corridors. Our findings underscore the dual environmental and public health benefits of EV adoption, highlighting the importance of continued investment in EV infrastructure and complementary policies to accelerate the transition to cleaner transportation.