Research

Dr. Bollinger’s research can be broadly divided into three areas: measurement error and data quality, applied microeconomics, and applied policy research.

Use the in-page menu for downloadable working papers and a list of funded projects.

Dr. Bollinger’s research focuses on how the quality of data used in economics and social science research affects the conclusions researchers draw. He has examined how response error and non-response impact our ability to measure earnings, social safety net program participation, crime and drug use. His work in these areas has appeared in highly ranked journals such as the Journal of the American Statistical Association, The Review of Economics and Statistics, and the Journal of Econometrics.

Economists are always asking questions about the world, and Dr. Bollinger is not an exception. With colleagues, he has delved into important questions in labor economics, urban economics, and public economics. He has considered how government interventions impact economic growth in an urban area, how the structure of wage differentials between Appalachia and the rest of the U.S. have evolved over time, and the impact of risk in labor market contracts.  This research has appeared in outstanding journals such as the Journal of Labor Economics and the Journal of Urban Economics.

Dr. Bollinger served as Director of U.K.’s Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER) from 2012-2018. As Director, Dr. Bollinger worked on a wide range of public policy issues such as evaluating job training programs, producing forecasts for unemployment insurance, measuring the exporting industries in Kentucky, forecasting government revenues, and the impact of education throughout the Kentucky economy.

Working Papers

  •    There’s No Such Thing As a Free Lunch: The Case of Hot Deck Imputations and Standard Errors

    Working paper, June 2020

Download No Free Lunch
  •     Targeting Intensive Job Assistance to Ex-Offenders by the Nature of Offense: Results from a Randomized Control Trial

    (with Aaron Yelowitz), Under Review, July 2019.

Download Job Assistance to Ex-Offenders
  •     The Expansion of Higher Education and Household Savings in China

    (with Xiaozhou Ding and Steven Lugauer), Under Review, August 2019.

Download Household Savings
  •    Trends in Earnings Volatility using Linked Administrative and Survey Data

    (with James Ziliak and Charles Hokayem) Working Paper, August 2019.

Download Trends in Earnings Volatility
  •    The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Measurement Error, Non-response, and Administrative Mismatch in the CPS

    (with Barry T. Hirsch, Charles M. Hokayem, and James P. Ziliak) Working Paper, August 2018.

Download Good, Bad, Ugly
  •    Evaluation of a Community Based Food Program Support Project

    (with Lauren DiRago-Duncan, Hungsoo Kim, Joanne Lianekhammy, Kara Riesing, Ann Vail, Alexander Vazsanyi) Working Paper, June 2019.

Download Community Based Food
  •    Poverty Trap or Housing Trap? Migration from Appalachia and the Role of Homeownership

    (with David Stevens)  working paper, October 2015

Download Home Trap

Funded Research

  •    Effects of Nonresponse and Measurement Error on Earnings Volatility and Inequality: Evidence from Survey and  Administrative Data

    National Science Foundation (with James P. Ziliak) August 2019-August 2022

  •    Trends in Earnings Volatility using Linked Administrative and Survey Data

    Washington Center for Equitable Growth (with James P. Ziliak) 2018 – 2019

  •    Labor Force Statistics Analysis and Consulting,

    Kentucky Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development, March 2016-June 2018

  •    Finding Formula to Distribute Child Support Enforcement Funds

    Kentucky Department of Income Support (with Mike Clark) July – December, 2017.

  •    Kentucky Housing Corporation Needs Assessment and Impact Analysis

    Kentucky Housing Corporation (with Bethany Paris) May 2017 – May 2018.

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March, 2018.

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March 2017

  •    Kentucky Research Data Center

    National Science Foundation (Jim Ziliak PI, serving as Co-PI) July 1, 2016-June 30, 2019

  •    The Economic Impacts of Land Use Policies in Lexington, Kentucky

    Lexington Bluegrass Association of Realtors,  May, 2016-December, 2016 (with Mike Clark)

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March 2016

  •    Child Poverty Nutrition Center

    U.S. Department of Agriculture (Ann Vail PI, serving as Co-PI), February 1, 2015 – January 31, 2019

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March 2015

  •    Evaluation of the Code Louisville Training Program

    U.S. Department of Labor and KentuckianaWorks, January 2015- June 2018

  •    Evaluation of Housing First Trial in Lexington Kentucky

    Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government, December, 2014-December 2017

  •    National Health Safety Preparedness Index

    (co-PI with Glen Mays, PI), Robert Wood Johnson, October, 2014-October 2017

  •    Estimating the Economic Impact of Keeneland

    Keeneland Corporation, September 2014-January 2015

  •    Examining the Impact of a Toll Bridge

    for Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, October 2013 – January 2014

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayettte Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March 2014

  •    Estimating the Economic Impact of Conventions in Lexington

    Lexington Convention and Visitors Bureau, September, 2013 – March 2015

  •    Evaluation of Job Training Assistance for Recently Released Prisoners

    Manhattan Institute, June 2013 – January 2014, (Co-PI with Aaron Yelowitz)

  •    Updated Funding Predictions for County Attorney’s Offices

    Department for Income Support, Cabinet for Health and Family Services

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March 2013

  •    Export Strength and Opportunities for Kentucky Industries

    Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development, September 2012-December 2012

  •    Industry and Labor Characteristics and Projections: The BEAM and WIA Regions

    (with Ken Troske) for BEAM Consortium, March 2012-December 2012

  •    Revenue Forecast for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government

    LFUCG Budget Office, March 2012

  •    Understanding Earnings Inequality in Appalachia: Skill Upgrading versus Rising Returns to Skill

    (with Ken Troske and Jim Ziliak) Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, September 30, 2006 – December 30, 2007

  •    UI Profiling Update

    (with Ken Troske) Kentucky Department of Human Resources and U.S. Department of Labor, January 1, 2006 – June 30, 2006

  •    Food Stamp Program Participation of Refugees and Immigrants: Measurement Error Correction for Immigrant Status

    (with Paul Hagstrom) Institute for Research on Poverty and U.S. Department of Agriculture small grants program (July 1, 2001 – December 1, 2002); U.K. Center for Poverty Research and ASPE (January 1, 2004 – January 1, 2005)

  •    Kentucky Labor Demand and Supply Surveys

    (Mark Berger and Paul Coomes: PI) Funded by Kentucky Cabinet for Workforce Development (January through November 2002)

  •    Measuring the Costs of Sprawl in Kentucky: Phase I & II

    (co-PI) Funded by Governor’s Office of Kentucky.

  •    Urban Sprawl in Atlanta

    (Keith Ihlanfeldt: PI) Funded by Brookings Institute and Lincoln Land Institute( June 1998 – June1999).

  •    Salary Determination of Major League Baseball Players

    Funded by GSU, School of Policy Studies, Research Program Committee (Summer 1997).

  •    The Value of Agglomeration Economies in the Atlanta Office Space Market

    Funded by GSU, School of Business, Research Program Committee (Summer 1996).

  •    The Value of Agglomeration Economies in the Atlanta Office Space Market

    Funded by GSU, School of Business, Research Program Committee (Summer 1996).

  •    Salary Structure and Growth in the Baseball Industry

    (with Julie Hotchkiss) Funded by GSU Research Initiation Grant (1996).

  •    Estimating Behavior Determining Income When Response is Subject to Error

    (with Martin H. David) Funded by the National Science Foundation, Division of Social, Behavioral and Economic Research: Methodology, Measurement, and Statistics in the Social Sciences. (August 1995 – December 1997).

  •    On the Errors in Variables Bias for Nonparametric Regression

    Funded by GSU, School of Business, Research Program Committee (Summer 1995).

  •    Economic Development Impacts of MARTA Rail System

    (with Keith Ihlanfeldt) Funded by the Federal Transportation Adminstration. (August 1994-July 1996).

  •    Measurement Error in the CPS: A Nonparametric Look

    Funded by GSU, School of Business, Research Program Committee (Summer 1994).

  •    Estimating the WIC Eligible Population in Georgia

    (with Mary Beth Walker) Funded by the State of Georgia, WIC program. ( Summer 1994).