Research

Agenda

I am a researcher and a social scientist with specialties in applied econometrics and innovation. I utilize social networks within legal institutions to study the diffusion of innovation, explore diversity in the profession, and investigate the dynamics of legal case networks. This allows me to unravel the complexities of industries.

Innovation

The mainstream of my research deals with the process of how innovation is developed and spread to others through institutions. In particular, I examine how legal innovations arise and diffuse through the lens of social network and survival analysis. I have also studied innovation more generally at the university level and how universities transform innovation into measureable outputs.

“The Diffusion of Deal Innovations in Complex Contractual Networks” (with Matt Jennejohn and Cree Jones). Interactive Visualization here; SSRN Paper here
“Roots of Innovation: Decoding the Textual Evolution in Legal Innovation Adoption in Contractual Networks” with Matthew Jennejohn and Cree Jones
“Innovation Impact of U.S. Universities” ( with J.H. Cullum Clark, Kristina Bishop, Vinit Nijhawan, Christian T. Blackwell, David Overton, Steve Ingram) Link; Full Paper; Executive Summary

Dynamics of Legal Case Networks

Related to my work on innovation networks, I research the dynamics that occur within networks. I statistically measure changes that occur through a network and how these changes manifest over time or in response to outside intervention. I have focused on litigation networks of attorneys and judges, law firms, or other actors participating in legal cases.

“Multistate Litigation Networks” with Elysa Dishman (Tableau visualization)
“Client Pressure and Persistent Diversity Gaps in the Courtroom” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn.
“Gender Gaps and IPOs” with Matthew Jennejohn and Afra Afsharipour (visualzation app)

Inclusive Networks

Some of the above empirical research has been applied to other areas, including mapping professional networks and revealing gender and racial disparities in the legal ecosystem, central to our markets.

“Gender Gaps and IPOs” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn. Interactive Visualization here
“Client Pressure and Persistent Diversity Gaps in the Courtroom”

Other Economic Research on Families and Labor Economics

My training as an economist and statistician has led to other research papers in family and labor economics. I studied how cultural factors impact economic outcomes, such as mobility and income levels, or even how resilient households are after an income shock.

“Resilience and Recovery” Job Market Paper
“Like Parent Like Child: Intergenerational Transmission of Geographic and Economic Mobility”(with Ömer Özak)
“Consumption Smoothing and Family Formation” (with Rocio Madera)

Publications

My Curriculum Vitae shows a full list of my publications and presentations and can be found here: CV (Updated December 2023)

“The Diffusion of Deal Innovations in Complex Contractual Networks” (with Matt Jennejohn and Cree Jones)
Interactive Visualization; SSRN paper
“Innovation Impact of U.S. Universities” ( with J.H. Cullum Clark, Kristina Bishop, Vinit Nijhawan, Christian T. Blackwell, David Overton, Steve Ingram) paper
“Estimation and Application of Lerner Type Indexes for the Public Sector”(with Shawna Grosskopf, Rolf Fare, Kathy Hayes, William Weber, and Heike Wetzel) in Market Power, Economic Efficiency, and the Lerner Index, (2024) World Scientific Publishing Company.

Current Projects and Working Papers

“Roots of Innovation: Decoding the Textual Evolution in Legal Innovation Adoption in Contractual Networks” with Matthew Jennejohn and Cree Jones.
“Client Pressure and Persistent Diversity Gaps in the Courtroom” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn.
“Multistate Litigation Networks” with Elysa Dishman. Tableau visualization
“Gender Gaps and IPOs” with Afra Afsharipour and Matthew Jennejohn. Visualization