Julian Diaz-Gutierrez

Ph.D. Candidate, Agricultural and Applied Economics, University of Illinois

juliand3@illinois.edu

I am an applied microeconomist specializing in development, labor, health, environmental, and international economics. Previously, I worked as a research analyst at the World Bank in the Office of the Chief Economist for Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as with the Department of Economics at Universidad EAFIT and the Centro de Estudios Regionales del Magdalena Medio (CER). My research focuses on understanding the economic forces shaping labor markets, health outcomes, and development, particularly in Latin America.

Working papers

Automation, Economic Shocks, and Infant Mortality: Evidence from Mexico

Abstract: In this paper, I investigate the impact of increased robotics in the United States on infant mortality rates in Mexico. Using a shift-share design that leverages variations in industrial robot usage and the employment composition of export-oriented maquiladoras, which predominantly employ women, I find that regions with higher exposure to U.S. automation experienced a greater rise in infant mortality rates. The analysis shows that women in manufacturing faced more significant job losses than men, leading to reduced household income and access to employer-provided healthcare. This economic strain forced many women into self-employment, reducing time for childcare. Additionally, I present evidence suggesting that automation may increase risky behaviors, such as drinking and smoking, among uninsured women of childbearing age. These findings highlight the complex relationship between technological advancements and public health outcomes, emphasizing the need for policymakers to consider the cross-border effects of automation on global health and employment.

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Trade Effects on Substance Abuse: Evidence from Colombia's Liberalization

Abstract: This paper investigates the effect of a structural tariff reform on substance abuse in Colombia. Using administrative data on the universe of emergency room visits and hospitalizations, I find that municipalities potentially more exposed to trade exhibit relative increases in total substance abuse. I show that these results are not explained by pre-trends in substance abuse rates, and that increases in substance abuse may be mediated by a stress channel through losses in the labor market. The findings hold when employing a broad array of robustness checks.

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Working papers

Publications