Han (Tiffany) Xiao

Biography

Tiffany is a PhD candidate in the Economics Department at University of California, Santa Barbara. Her research focus on the field of health economics.

Job Market Abstract Paper

"How Hospitals Respond to Patient Death: Evidence from Maternal Death and C-section"

This study contributes valuable insights into use of medical procedures in the context of maternal care by investigating the impact of exposure to maternal death on subsequent C-section rates. Using New York State inpatient discharge data, I examine the effects of maternal death on subsequent treatment patterns at the hospital level. My findings reveal a noteworthy association between maternal death and increase in C-section rates among middle-risk mothers. However, no significant effects are observed among low- and high-risk mothers. I do not find discernible changes in health outcomes including stillborn and, labor and delivery complications, suggesting that the rise in C-section rates is likely a defensive practice. Treatment effects are found to be more pronounced in small hospitals and among physicians with more experience in performing C-section.