Hendren, NathanielSprung-Keyser, Benjamin2023-06-0220232023-06-012023-05Sprung-Keyser, Benjamin. 2023. Essays in Public and Labor Economics. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.30492021https://nrs.harvard.edu/URN-3:HUL.INSTREPOS:37375797This dissertation consists of four essays in public and labor economics. The first essay (joint with Nathaniel Hendren) utilizes the Marginal Value of Public Funds (MVPF) framework to examine the welfare consequences of historical US policies. The second essay (joint with William C. Boning, Nathaniel Hendren and Ellen Stuart) examines the returns to IRS audits of individual across the income distribution. The third essay (joint with Lucas Goodman) examines the extent to which state capital gains tax rates drive migration or retiming by individuals with large quantities of capital gains. The final essay (joint with Nathaniel Hendren and Sonya Porter) examines the extent to which childhood location shapes access to adult labor markets, and it quantifies the extent to which migration responds to changes in wage opportunities.application/pdfenEconomicsThesis or Dissertation2023-06-020000-0003-2742-0876