"I will leave this world in a better place than I found it."
~Reagan Baughman
What is your current research/professional interest? My research interests are varied, but I am continuing to work on policies that affect low wage workers, especially nursing home and home care workers. I am also working on studies about economic determinants of child health.
In the course(s) that you teach, what are the typical aspects of the student’s coursework you evaluate and what weighting do you give each aspect? In no particular order: problem sets (to let students practice technical skills), exams, and a written and oral policy brief on a topic important to the U.S. federal budget. I also believe that class discussion is essential in small Carsey classes, and that is also an important part of grading.
What drove you to teaching? It was a bit of an accident. I wanted to work in government or at a think tank, but my graduate advisors told me to cast a wide net in my job search. I ended up coming to UNH and then fell in love with teaching Labor Economics in my first year here at UNH. The students here are wonderful.
What advice do you have for your students? Speak up in class. Ask questions. If you do, you will learn more from your faculty and your classmates.
What is the most recent book you read? I am neither proud nor ashamed of the fact that when I finish a tough day of work I go for something much less serious - classic murder mysteries. More seriously, I read modern American history and biography.
How do you spend your free time? Reading, a lot of travel (pre-COVID). A random thought that may or may not be relevant - I have spent a semester in Budapest in 2007 and again in 2016 teaching health economics to students from a wide variety of European countries and loved it.
What is your greatest passion – professional or personal? An absolute cliche, but I can't say it any better: leaving the world in a better place than I found it. Through my policy research on important topics, government work (2009-2010) at the Congressional Budget Office & volunteering.
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