Ramazan Altindag

Ramazan Altindag

  • Associate Professor, Economics
  • Ph.D. in Economics, Graduate Center, City University of New York
  • Master of Arts in Economics, University Paris 1 - Panthéon-Sorbonne
  • Bachelor of Arts in Economics, Galatasaray University

Teaching Interests

Microeconomics, Econometrics, Health Economics, Development Economics

Research Interests

Economics of Health and Aging · Social Protection and Economic Security · Public Policy

Consulting/Practice Interests

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), World Food Programme (WFP), International Labour Organization (ILO)

Bio

I am an applied microeconomist studying how public policies and institutional context shape economic wellbeing. My research combines quasi-experimental methods with large-scale field experiments conducted in collaboration with public institutions and international organizations.

I am an invited researcher with J-PAL and IPA’s Displaced Livelihoods Initiative (DLI) and the Humanitarian Protection Initiative (HPI), and a Research Fellow at the IZA Institute of Labor Economics.

I spent most of my early life in Turkey, where I completed my undergraduate studies in economics at Galatasaray University. I subsequently pursued a master’s degree at the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne. I received my PhD in Economics from the City University of New York in 2016 and then held a David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies prior to joining Bentley University in 2017. For more information, please visit my personal webpage at www.onuraltindag.info.

Professional Memberships

  • American Society of Health Economists 2020-01-01 - Present
  • International Health Economics Association 2020-01-01 - Present
  • Economic Research Forum 2019-01-01 - Present
  • Households in Conflict Network 2019-01-01 - Present
  • Bentley Health Thought Leadership Network 2017-10-18 - Present
  • Harvard University Center for Population and Development Studies 2017-08-01 - Present
  • Population Association of America 2017-03-01 - Present
  • American Economic Association 2015-08-28 - Present

    • Awards and Honors

  • Graduate of the Last Decade Award, City University of New York, The Graduate Center.
  • David E. Bell Postdoctoral Fellowship, Harvard University

    • Scholarly Contributions and Creative Productions

    Journal Articles

  • Altindag, O., Greve, J., Tekin, E. (2025). Impact of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccination on Hospitalizations and Human Capital: Evidence from Copenhagen School Health Records. Vaccines (Link)
  • Altindag, O., Anderson, M., Baker, J., Greve, J., Tekin, E. (2024). Information on Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine in the Copenhagen School Health Records Register. Scandinavian Journal of Public Health (Link)
  • Altindag, O., Greve, J., Tekin, E. (2024). Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark. Review of Economics and Statistics (Link)
  • Altindag, O., O'Connell, S. (2023). The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees. Journal of Development Economics (Link)
  • Altindag, O., Joyce, T. (2022). Another Day, Another Visit: Impact of Arkansas’ Mandatory Waiting Period for Women Seeking an Abortion by Demographic Groups. Journal of Public Economics
  • Altindag, R. O., Erten, B., Keskin, P. (2022). Mental Health Costs of Lockdowns: Evidence from Age-specific Curfews in Turkey. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics (Link)
  • Altindag, R. O., O'Connell, S. D., Sasmaz, A., Balcioglu, Z., Cadoni, P., Jerneck, M., Foong, A. K. (2021). Targeting humanitarian aid using administrative data: Model design and validation. Journal of Development Economics, (148) (Link)
  • Altindag, R. O., Bakış, O., Rozo, S. V. (2020). Blessing or burden? Impacts of refugees on businesses and the informal economy. Journal of Development Economics, (146) 102490. (Link)
  • Altindag, R. O., Kaushal, N. (2020). Do refugees impact voting behavior in the host country? Evidence from Syrian refugee inflows to Turkey. Public Choice 30-Jan. (Link)
  • Kobayashi, L. C., Altindag, R. O., Truskinovsky, Y., Berkman, L. F. (2019). Effects of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid Expansion on Subjective Well-Being in the US Adult Population, 2010–2016. American Journal of Public Health, (109) 9 1236-1242. (Link)
  • Altindag, R. O., Joyce, T. J., Reeder, J. A. (2019). Can Nonexperimental Methods Provide Unbiased Estimates of a Breastfeeding Intervention? A Within-Study Comparison of Peer Counseling in Oregon. Evaluation Review, (43) 4-Mar 152-188. (Link)
  • Altindag, R. O., Joyce, T. (2017). Judicial Bypass for Minors Seeking Abortions in Arkansas Versus Other States. American Journal of Public Health, (107) 8 1266-1271. (Link)
  • Joyce, T., Remler, D. K., Jaeger, D. A., Altindag, R. O., O'Connell, S. D., Crockett, S. (2017). On Measuring and Reducing Selection Bias With a Quasi-Doubly Randomized Preference Trial. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, (36) 2 438-459. (Link)
  • Altindag, R. O. (2016). Son Preference, Fertility Decline, and the Nonmissing Girls of Turkey. Demography, (53) 2 541-566. (Link)
  • Joyce, T., Crockett, S., Jaeger, D. A., Altindag, O., O'Connell, S. D. (2015). Does classroom time matter?. Economic of Education Review, (46) 64-77. (Link)
  • Reeder, J. A., Joyce, T., Sibley, K., Arnold, D., Altindag, O. (2014). Telephone Peer Counseling of Breastfeeding Among WIC Participants: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Pediatrics, (134) 3 E700-E709.

    • Digital and Electronic Media, Social Media, Blogs, Podcasts

  • 2016. "Education Next"
  • 2014. "Marginal Revolution"

    • Presentations

  • Altindag, R. O. (2023). “ADRD, Family Caregiving and Children‚Äôs Labor Supply in Denmark.” Presented at the Hopkins‚Äô Economics of Alzheimer‚Äôs Disease & Services (HEADS) Center HEADS Center Seminar Baltimore MD.
  • Altindag, R. O. (2023). “Does targeting matter for the effectiveness of scaled cash transfer programs? Evidence from a natural field experiment.” Presented at the Northeastern University Northeastern University Economics Department Seminar Boston
  • Altindag, R. O. (2023). “Measles, Mumps and Rubella Vaccine in Denmark” Presented at the Harvard University The Value of Vaccination Research Network (VoVRN) Boston
  • Altindag, R. O. (2023). “Does targeting matter for the effectiveness of scaled cash transfer programs? Evidence from a natural field experiment” Presented at the Tufts University Tufts University Economics Department Seminar Metford
  • Altindag, R. O. (2023). “Targeting Cash-Based Assistance in Humanitarian Settings: Insights from Lebanon” Presented at the World Food Programme WFP Impact Evaluation Forum Rome
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “Another Day, Another Visit: Impact of Arkansas‚Äô Mandatory Waiting Period for Women Seeking an Abortion by Demographic Groups.” Presented at the Southern Economic Association 2022 Annual Meeting Fort Lauderdale
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “Another Day, Another Visit: Impact of Arkansas‚Äô Mandatory Waiting Period for Women Seeking an Abortion by Demographic Groups.” Presented at the APPAM 2022 Fall Conference Washington DC
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “The role of well-being measurement in targeting social protection programs” Presented at the UN High Commisionner for Refugees Country office presentation Beirut Lebanon
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark.” Presented at the Deakin University. Economics Department Seminar Melbourne
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark.” Presented at the Galatasaray University Economics Department Seminar Istanbul
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark” Presented at the UMass Amherst Health Economics Seminar Amherst
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark” Presented at the The Ohio State University John Glenn College of Public Affairs Seminar Ohio
  • Altindag, R. O. (2022). “The Short-lived Effects of Unconditional Cash Transfers to Refugees” Presented at the World Bank and UNHCR The 2nd Research Conference on Forced Displacement Washington DC
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees” Presented at the 41st BREAD Virtual Conference on Development Economics
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark” Presented at the American University Department of Public Administration and Policy Seminar
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark” Presented at the Bentley University Economics Department Seminar at Bentley University Zoom
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees” Presented at the TOBB University Economics Department Seminar at TOBB University Zoom
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark.” Presented at the Erasmus School of Economics Department Seminar
  • Altindag, O. (2021). “The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees” Presented at the ERF 27th Annual Conference, Cairo.
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees” Presented at the European Economic Association Annual Congress
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “Public Health Policy At Scale: Impact of a Government-sponsored Information Campaign on Infant Mortality in Denmark” Presented at the Georgia Tech School of Economics Seminar
  • Altindag, R. O. (2021). “The short-lived effects of unconditional cash transfers to refugees” Presented at the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Planning Agency Seminar
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Targeting Humanitarian Aid Using Administrative Data: Model Design and Validation.” Presented at the PAA Population Association of America
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Targeting Humanitarian Aid Using Administrative Data: Model Design and Validation.” Presented at the Bogazici University Remote Seminar in Economics
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Unconditional cash-based assistance to the poor: What do at-scale programs achieve?” Presented at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Basic Assistance Group Meeting
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Unconditional cash-based assistance to the poor: What do at-scale programs achieve?” Presented at the Bentley University Economics Seminar
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Mental Health Costs of Lockdowns: Evidence from Age-specific Curfews in Turkey.” Presented at the Bentley University Humanities Seminar
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the Conference on Forced Displacement, Joint Data Center on Forced Displacement Copenhagen
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy.” Presented at the Emory University Economics Department Seminar Atlanta
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Unconditional cash-based assistance to the poor: What do at-scale programs achieve?” Presented at the Economics Department Seminar, University of Connecticut
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Mental Health Costs of Lockdowns: Evidence from Age-specific Curfews in Turkey.” Presented at the Fifth Annual Population Health Science Research Workshop
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Unconditional cash-based assistance to the poor: What do at-scale programs achieve?” Presented at the Middle East Economic Association Annual Meeting
  • Altindag, R. O. (2020). “Mental Health Costs of Lockdowns: Evidence from Age-specific Curfews in Turkey.” Presented at the NBER Health Economics Program 2020 Fall Meeting
  • Altindag, R. O. (2019). “Do vaccines mitigate the long-term impact of poor health at birth?” Presented at the International Health Economics Association International Health Economics Association Annual Meeting Basel Switzerland
  • Altindag, R. O. (2019). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the UCD Geary Institute for Public Policy IZA Annual Migration Meeting Dublin/Ireland
  • Altindag, R. O. (2019). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the Population Association of America Population Association of America Annual Meeting Austin/Texas
  • Altindag, R. O. (2019). “Targeting humanitarian aid using administrative data: model design and validation.” Presented at the Heriot-Watt University Research Initiative on the Economics of the Middle East Edinburgh/Scotland
  • Altindag, R. O. (2018). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the Paris I Sorbonne University RIEME 3rd Meeting Paris
  • Altindag, R. O. (2018). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the USC Marshall School of Business Conference on the Impacts of Refugees in Hosting Economies Los Angeles
  • Altindag, R. O. (2018). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the Bogazici University Social Policy and Development Seminars Istanbul
  • Altindag, R. O. (2018). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the The Rockwool Foundation The Rockwool Foundation economics seminar Copenhagen
  • Altindag, R. O. (2018). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the VIVE - The Danish Center for Social Science Research VIVE economics seminar Copenhagen
  • Altindag, R. O. (2018). “Blessing or Burden? The Impact of Refugees on Businesses and the Informal Economy” Presented at the Midwest Economics Association Midwest Economics Association Annual Meeting Chicago
  • Altindag, O., Kaushal, N. (2017). “Do Refugees Impact Voting Behavior in the Host Country? Evidence from Syrian Refugee Inflows in Turkey” Presented at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies New Perspectives on Political Economy of the Middle East Oxford University
  • Altindag, O., Joyce , T., Reeder , J. (2017). “Effects of Peer Counseling to Support Breastfeeding: Assessing the External Validity of a Randomized Field Experiment” Presented at the Sol Price School of Public Policy, University of Southern California 28th Annual Health Economics Conference California
  • Altindag, O., Joyce , T., Reeder , J. (2017). “Effects of Peer Counseling to Support Breastfeeding: Assessing the External Validity of a Randomized Field Experiment” Presented at the International Health Economics Association IHEA Boston 2017 Congress Boston
  • Altindag, O., Kaushal , N. (2017). “Do Refugees Impact Voting Behavior in the Host Country? Evidence from Syrian Refugee Inflows in Turkey” Presented at the Koc University Economics Department Seminar Istanbul
  • Altindag, O., Kaushal, N. (2017). “Do Refugees Impact Voting Behavior in the Host Country? Evidence from Syrian Refugee Inflows in Turkey” Presented at the Population Association of American PAA 2017 Chicago
  • Altindag, O., Kaushal , N. (2017). “Do Refugees Impact Voting Behavior in the Host Country? Evidence from Syrian Refugee Inflows in Turkey” Presented at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies Friday Luncheon Seminar Cambridge

    • Service

    Service: Department

  • Committee Member for Economics Department Hiring Committee 8/1/22 - 2/28/23
  • Committee Member for Economics Department Hiring Committee 8/1/21 - 2/28/22
  • Committee Member for Principles Committee 1/1/20 - Present
  • Interviewer for Economics Department Hiring Committee 8/1/20 - 2/28/21
  • Committee Member for Economics Department Scholarly Activity Committee 1/1/18 - Present
  • Committee Member for Economics Department Hiring Committee 8/1/18 - 2/28/19

    • Service: University

  • Committee Member for Bentley Research Council (BRC) 1/1/23 - Present
  • Committee Member for Enrollment Management Committee 1/1/21 - Present
  • Committee Member for GSA Professional Development Fund Committee 1/1/20 - Present
  • Committee Member for Humanities Research Seminar 1/1/20 - 12/31/21