Robert M. Lantis
Department of Economics
Purdue University
403 W. State Street
West Lafayette, IN 47907
Phone: (269) 338-4994
Email: [email protected]
Website: web.ics.purdue.edu/~rlantis
Citizenship: United States
CURRENT POSITION
Purdue University Center for Research in Economics (PURCE) Fellow, 2014-Present
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Economics, Purdue University, 2014
Dissertation: “Essays in Education and Health Economics”
Committee: John Barron (co-chair), Kevin Mumford (co-chair), Justin Tobias, Tim Cason
M.S. Economics, Purdue University, 2013
B.S. Economics, Purdue University, 2009
Graduation with Highest Distinction, Minor in Mathematics
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Labor Economics, Public Economics, Experimental Economics, Economics of Education
TEACHING INTERESTS
Labor Economics, Public Economics, Game Theory, International Trade, Experimental
Economics, Behavioral Economics, Health Economics, Industrial Organization
RESEARCH
“Academic Performance, Effort Choice, and the Role of Peers” Under Review
“The Role of Unemployment Insurance on Alcohol Use and Abuse Following Job Loss”
(joint work with Brittany Teahan) Under Review
“Birds of a Feather Flock Together, but Does it Matter?: Inter and Intra Race Effects of Peer
Ability” Under Review
“Charter Student’s Impacts Upon Re-entry into Public Schools”
RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Research assistant to Kevin Mumford, Fall 2013-Summer 2014
Research assistant to Gabriele Camera, Fall 2009-Summer 2012

Assisted in running experiments and writing z-Tree code which led to a publication
in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Recitation Instructor
Course Instructor
Introduction to Economics
Microeconomics
Spring 2010
Summer 2011
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Teaching Assistant
Econometrics
Macroeconomics (MBA)
Behavioral Economics
Microeconomics (Graduate)
Econometrics (Graduate)
Fall 2009
Fall 2010, Fall 2011
Spring 2012
Fall 2012
Spring 2013, Fall 2013
AWARDS AND HONORS
Teaching Awards
Krannert School of Management, Certificate for Outstanding Recitation
Krannert School of Management, Award for Outstanding Teaching
Academic Honors and Grants
Purdue Economic Research Center Fellowship
Purdue Research Foundation Grant, Purdue University
Tuition Remission and Graduate Assistantship, Purdue University
Spring 2010
Summer 2011
Fall 2014-Present
Fall 2012-Spring 2013
Fall 2009-Summer 2014
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
Referee, Contemporary Economic Policy
PAPER ABSTRACTS
Academic Performance, Effort Choice, and the Role of Peers
This paper identifies how a student’s effort choice, measured by hours studied per week, is
affected by their peers’ ability, which is absent from the literature. Empirical identification
comes from exogenous peer group changes arising from school consolidations, creating a set of
“non-carryover’ peers. Unlike previous literature this paper emphasizes how the relative ability
position impacts the effect of peer ability on both hours studied and academic performance. The
effect of peer ability on hours studied is found to be negative for the lowest relative ability
students, but positive and of the greatest magnitude for those of the highest relative ability. The
effect of peer ability on academic performance is found to be positive for all students, but
greatest for those students closest to their median peer, and decreases as the relative ability
moves away from this position.
The Role of Unemployment Insurance on Alcohol Use and Abuse Following Job Loss (joint with
Brittany Teahan)
We investigate whether unemployment insurance (UI) policy affects the drinking behavior of the
unemployed, which is absent from the literature. Using NLSY data supplemented with Geocode
data, we estimate the effect of benefit replacement rates on changes in individual alcohol
consumption following job loss. Identification relies on variation in replacement rates across
states and over time. Results indicate higher unemployment benefits increase both overall
alcohol consumption and the probability an individual abuses alcohol upon job loss. Individuals'
responsiveness to changes in replacement rates vary based on drinking history with moderate
drinkers the most sensitive to changes.
Birds of a Feather Flock Together, but Does it Matter?: Inter and Intra Race Effects of Peer
Ability
This paper explores how the effect of peer ability from different racial groups affects the
academic performance of a student, and how this varies with the student's own race. This is
motivated by the phenomena called homophily, and a larger sociology literature on the role race
plays in social networks. Results show that a student's academic performance is affected more
by same race peer ability as opposed to different race peers. Furthermore, this paper identifies
how inter and intra race effects of peer ability are impacted by the racial composition of the
school or peer group, which is not present in the current literature. Estimates show that the effect
of peer ability from same race peers is greater when the student is a part of the minority of the
student's school or peer group. Additionally, effects become even more pronounced for students
belonging to a minority group in an environment with a strong majority. Results confirm peer
race plays a role in student interactions, and suggests that instructors and administrators should
be aware of the dynamics that exist between racial groups within the classroom.
REFERENCES
John Barron
Department of Economics
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 494-4451
Email: [email protected]
Justin Tobias
Department of Economics
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 494-8570
Email: [email protected]
Kevin Mumford
Department of Economics
Purdue University
Phone: (765) 494-6773
Email: [email protected]