RAND Economist Biography

Ashlesha Datar

Economist
Santa Monica Office

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Public Policy,
RAND Graduate School
2003

FIELDS

Labor economics; health and education

POLICY AREAS

Childhood obesity, Kindergarten entry age, School meal programs, Birth weight effects

RECENT PROJECTS

Economic determinants of participation in school meal programs; parental investments in early childhood; rural health infrastructure and childhood immunizations; effects of class size in elementary school.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

“The Role of Rural Health Infrastructure in Expanding Immunization Coverage in India” Datar, A., Mukherji, A. and Neeraj Sood. 2007. Indian Journal of Medical Research 125: 29-40
“Childhood Overweight and Elementary School Outcomes” Datar, A. and Roland Sturm. 2006. International Journal of Obesity Advance online publication 14 March 2006; doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0803311
“The Impact of Postpartum Hospital Stay Legislation on Newborn Length of Stay, Readmission and Mortality in California” Datar, A. and Neeraj Sood. 2006. Pediatrics 118(1):63-72
“The Impact of Kindergarten Entrance Age Policies on the Child Care Needs of Families” Datar, A. 2006. Journal of Policy Analysis and Management 25(1):129-151
“Does Delaying Kindergarten Entrance Give Children a Head Start?” Datar, A. 2006. Economics of Education Review 25:43-62
“Weight Gain in Elementary School Children and Metropolitan Area Food Prices.” Sturm, R. and Datar, A. 2005. Public Health 119(12):1059-1068
“Exposure to Physical Education in School and its Impact on Body Mass Index: Evidence from a Prospective Study of Kindergartners.”Datar, A. and Roland Sturm. 2004. American Journal of Public Health. Volume 94, No. 9: 1501-1506
“Childhood Overweight and Teacher and Parent Reported Behavior Problems: Evidence from a Prospective Study of Kindergartners.” Datar, A. and Roland Sturm. 2004. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Volume 158: 804-810
“Childhood Obesity and Academic Achievement: Evidence from a Population Based Sample of Kindergartners and First Graders.” Datar, A., Sturm, R. and Jennifer L. Magnabosco. 2004. Obesity Research;12: 58-68.

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