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Jason Fletcher

Professor of Public Affairs; Faculty Affiliate,Institute for Research on Poverty, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chapter Member: Wisconsin SSN

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About Jason

Fletcher's research focuses on combining genetics with social science, examining issues around health and aging, and examining impacts of social networks on life outcomes

Contributions

Will Taxes on Sugary Soft Drinks Improve Health?

In the News

Research discussed by Chuck Quirmbach, in "Wisconsin Study Finds Binge Drinking Differences between Men & Women," NPR, September 24, 2018.
Guest on National Public Radio, June 30, 2016.
Quoted by Melanie Evans in "Measure Ranks Docs on How Much Patients Improve," Modern Healthcare, October 15, 2014.
Research discussed by Anahad O’Connor, in "Economic Toll of Diabetes Begins Early," New York Times, January 9, 2012.
Research discussed by David Glenn, in "College Costs and Selectivity May Influence Health and Behavior Choices," The Chronicle of Higher Education, April 26, 2011.
Research discussed by Barbara Kiviat, in "Taxing Sodas for a Healthier Economy?," Time Magazine, July 12, 2010.
Research discussed by David Merritt Johns, in "Everything is Contagious," Slate, April 8, 2010.

Publications

"The Effects of Teenage Childbearing on the Short- and Long-Term Health Behaviors of Mothers" Journal of Population Economics 25, no. 1 (2012): 201-218.
Shows that early childbearing is protective against some risky health behaviors for adults.
"The Effects of Soft Drink Taxation on Soft Drink Consumption and Weight for Children and Adolescents" (with David Frisvold and Nathan Tefft). Journal of Public Economics 94, no. 11 (2010): 967-974.
Demonstrates that soft drink taxation has no impacts on obesity.
"Is Obesity Contagious? Social Networks vs. Environmental Factors in the Obesity Epidemic" (with Ethan Cohen-Cole). Journal of Health Economics 27, no. 5 (2008): 1382-1387.
Finds that environmental effects appear more important than social network effects in explaining obesity.