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Michael Dworsky

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Associate Economist
Santa Monica Office

Education

B.A. in economics, philosophy, Williams College; Ph.D. in economics, Stanford University

Media Resources

This researcher is available for interviews.

To arrange an interview, contact the RAND Office of Media Relations at (310) 451-6913, or email media@rand.org.

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Overview

Michael (Misha) Dworsky is an associate economist at the RAND Corporation. His primary research interests are in health economics, labor economics, public finance, and the economics of insurance. Much of his work at RAND is centered on workers' compensation and health insurance. He led a study for the state of California that estimated how the Great Recession affected earnings losses for workers with permanently disabling occupational injuries and evaluated how the business cycle affects the adequacy of permanent disability benefits in Workers' Compensation. He is currently studying the efficiency of the Texas workers' compensation market and the quality of occupational health care. In addition to research on workers' compensation and occupational health, Dworsky has conducted several studies evaluating the impact of the Affordable Care Act Medicaid expansion on outcomes for low-income adults, hospital utilization, and state finances. He also conducts methodological research on causal inference and the use of survey data to measure health status. Dworsky received his Ph.D. in economics from Stanford University.

Research Focus

Recent Projects

  • Coverage, Access, and Health Effects of the ACA Medicaid Expansion
  • Benefits and Earnings Losses for Permanently Disabled Workers in California
  • Workers' Compensation Leaders Research Colloquium
  • Three Policy Briefs on TRIA Reauthorization
  • Assessment of Policy Options for Workplace Safety and Health Improvements

Selected Publications

Teryl Nuckols, Craig Conlon, Michael Robbins, Michael Dworsky, Julie Lai, Carol P. Roth, Barbara Levitan, Seth Seabury, Rachana Seelam, and Steven M. Asch, "Quality of Care for Work-Associated Carpal Tunnel Syndrome," Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 59(1):47-53, 2017

Michael Dworsky, Seth A. Seabury, Frank W. Neuhauser, Ujwal Kharel, Roald Euller, Benefits and Earnings Losses for Permanently Disabled Workers in California: Trends Through the Great Recession and Impacts of Recent Reforms, RAND Corporation (RR-1229), 2016

Michael Dworsky, Christine Eibner, The Effect of the 2014 Medicaid Expansion on Insurance Coverage for Newly Eligible Childless Adults, RAND Corporation (RR-1736-RWJF), 2016

Michael Dworsky, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Workers' Compensation Leaders Research Colloquium, December 11, 2014: Proceedings, RAND Corporation (CF-333), 2015

Michael Dworsky, Lloyd Dixon, The Impact on Workers' Compensation Insurance Markets of Allowing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act to Expire, RAND Corporation (RR-643), 2014

Commentary

  • Patient filling out forms in a doctor's office

    Can a Continuous Coverage Requirement Produce a Healthy Insurance Market?

    A continuous coverage requirement is intended to discourage individuals from waiting until they become sick to purchase insurance. Such a requirement works well in theory to maintain a healthy marketplace, but there is little evidence on how well it might work in practice.

    Jan 4, 2017 The Hill

  • The Tribute in Light is illuminated on the skyline of New York's Lower Manhattan as people look across the Hudson River in Jersey City, September 11, 2013

    3 Terrorism Risk Insurance Act Facts for Congress to Consider

    With the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act set to expire this year, Congress is currently revisiting a crucial question: What is the appropriate government role in terrorism insurance markets? As the debate unfolds on Capitol Hill, policymakers should consider three key research findings.

    Jun 12, 2014 U.S. News & World Report

Publications