SI 2026 Workshop on Aging
Organized by David M. Cutler, Kosali I. Simon, and Jonathan S. Skinner
July 27-28, 2026
Royal Sonesta Hotel, 40 Edwin H. Land Blvd.,Cambridge, MA
Monday, July 27
8:30AM
Coffee and Pastries
9:00AM
Introductions and Welcome
9:10AM

The Effect of Annuities on Longevity

Borja Larrain, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile
Alessandro Previtero, Indiana University and NBER
Felipe Severino, Dartmouth College

Discussant:
Courtney Coile, Wellesley College and NBER
10:00AM
Break
10:10AM

Live Longer and Healthier: Impact of Pension Income for Low-Income Retirees

Chiara Malavasi, ZEW - Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research
Han Ye, University of Mannheim

Discussant:
Norma B. Coe, University of Pennsylvania and NBER
11:00AM
Break
11:10AM

Long-term Effects of Earlier Retirement on Mental Illness and Cognitive Decline

Nabanita Datta Gupta, Aarhus University

Discussant:
Pierre-Carl Michaud, HEC Montreal and NBER
12:00PM
Lunch
1:00PM

Surveying Counterfactuals: Improving 401(k) Matches Using Hypothetical Choices

Guillermo Carranza, Yale University
Taha Choukhmane, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NBER
Fiona E. Greig, The Vanguard Group
Cormac O'Dea, Yale University and NBER
Lawrence D.W. Schmidt, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NBER

Discussant:
Alex Chan, Harvard University and NBER
1:50PM
Break
2:00PM

Age-biased Technological Changes

Cheng Chen, Clemson University
J. Frank Li, University of British Columbia
2:20PM

Pensioners without Borders

Antoine B. Levy, University of California, Berkeley
Mathilde Muñoz, University of California, Berkeley and NBER
Salla Kalin, The Labour Institute for Economic Research
2:40PM

Optimizing Retirement Financial Strategies: Integrating Annuities, Defined Contribution Plans, and Long-Term Care Costs

Vanya Horneff, Goethe University Frankfurt
Raimond Maurer, Goethe University Frankfurt
Olivia S. Mitchell, University of Pennsylvania and NBER
Julius Odenbreit, Goethe University Frankfurt
3:00PM
Break
3:10PM

Cognitive Decline and Financial Decision-Making

Fabrizio Mazzonna, Universitá della Svizzera Italiana
Andrea Orsenigo, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF)
Franco Peracchi, Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance (EIEF)

Discussant:
Jing Li, University of Washington
4:00PM
Adjourn
Tuesday, July 28
8:30AM
Coffee and Pastries
9:00AM

Demographic Shocks and Health Care: Spillover Effects of the Refugee Crisis on Germany's Aging Population

Marcella Alsan, Stanford University and NBER
Esra E. Bayindir, University of Hamburg
Robert Messerle, Wissenschaftliches Institut der AOK
Jonas Schreyögg, University of Hamburg

Discussant:
Joseph J. Doyle Jr., Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NBER
9:50AM
Break
10:00AM

Trials Avoid High Risk Patients and Underestimate Drug Harms

Jason Abaluck, Yale University and NBER
Leila Agha, Harvard University and NBER
Sachin Shah, Massachusetts General Hospital

Discussant:
Jonathan S. Skinner, Dartmouth College and NBER
10:50AM
Break
11:00AM

Insuring Wisdom: Brokers in the Market for Medicare Advice

Elaine Shen, University of California, Berkeley
Margaret Kallus, University of California, Berkeley

Discussant:
Jason Abaluck, Yale University and NBER
11:50AM

Medi-Cal and Access to Skilled Nursing Facilities: A Randomized Audit Study

Lillian Estenson, University of Southern California
Erin L. Duffy, University of Southern California
Jonathan N. Cloughesy, University of Southern California
Mireille Jacobson, University of Southern California and NBER
12:10PM
Lunch
1:10PM

Association Between Documented Dementia Diagnosis and Caregiver Mental Health Among Medicare Enrollees

Jennifer L. Carnahan, Indiana University
Christopher Dunphy, National Bureau of Economic Research
Kosali I. Simon, Indiana University and NBER
Timothy Layton, University of Virginia and NBER
Richard F. Meraz, Indiana University
Malaz Boustani, Indiana University
1:20PM

Living with Dementia: Mental Health and Mortality Effects on Spouses

Onur Altındağ, Bentley University
Anders Barstad, The Danish Center for Social Science Research (VIVE)
Jane Greve, The Danish Center for Social Science Research (VIVE)
Yulya Truskinovsky, Syracuse University and NBER
1:30PM

Patient Peer Effects: Evidence from Nursing Home Room Assignments

Alden Cheng, National Bureau of Economic Research
Martin B. Hackmann, University of California, Los Angeles and NBER

Discussant for all three presentations:
Itzik Fadlon, University of California, San Diego and NBER
2:10PM
Break
2:20PM

Similar Drinking, Greater Harm: Obesity, Metabolic Risk, and Rising Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Mortality

J. Travis Donahoe, University of Pittsburgh
Joseph Alejandro, University of Providence
Natalie Sumetsky, University of Pittsburgh
Natalie Smith, University of Pittsburgh
Christina Mair, University of Pittsburgh
2:40 pm

The Economics of Chronic Disease

David M. Cutler, Harvard University and NBER
Ralph I. Lawton, Harvard University
Maria Polyakova, Stanford University and NBER

Discussant:
Nicole Maestas, Harvard University and NBER
3:30PM
Adjourn