Will Labadie, Ph. D.

About me

I’m an applied micro-economist by training. My research has primarily focused on behavioral responses to education and healthcare policy; I am especially interested in the decision-making of American public schools. In my free time, I enjoy video games, long-distance running, drawing, and playing the clarinet.

Why do you teach at Earlham?

Earlham is a special place where faculty and staff treat each other, students, and the project of education with respect and care. Students and the student experience are at the forefront of every discussion about college issues. There is a clear shared commitment to cultivating and maintaining diversity, equity, and inclusivity at the college and classroom level. Earlham’s principles and practices – respect for persons, integrity, peace and justice, simplicity, and community – are the things I strive for in teaching and in living my life.

Education

• Ph.D., Economics, University of Houston
• M.S., Economics, University of Houston
• B.S., Economics, University of North Texas

Professional memberships

• American Economic Association

Research projects

My work typically involves relying on observational data to perform causal analysis. In 2022 I led a student-faculty collaborative research project examining the effects of a 2018 policy aimed at reducing healthcare wait times for US veterans; the research pointed to some potential decreases in wait times for mental health-related appointments relative to non-mental health appointments. I am currently working to extend this research to examine the effects of wait times on veterans’ health outcomes.

Scholarly interest

• Applied microeconomics
• Public economics
• Labor economics
• Education

Published works

A full list of my research work can be found at wclabadie.com