Job Market Paper

Re-evaluating the Role of Location in Food Assistance Services: Optimizing Strategies to Address Food Deserts.

The local food environment significantly affects residents' access to affordable, healthy food, particularly in food deserts. This study examines the benefits of increasing food pantry availability in rural and urban Upstate New York. Using mobile phone location data and a dynamic optimization model, we identify optimal pantry locations to minimize social costs, including operating and travel costs. Comparing current pantry availability to optimal scenarios, findings suggest that in urban areas, reducing the number of pantries decreases social costs, while in rural areas, adding pantries is beneficial. These results provide insights for policymakers to address food insecurity and promote healthy diets.

Publications:

1. Minhao Yan, Todd M. Schmit, Michael J. Baker, Matthew N. LeRoux and Miguel I. Gómez. “Sell Now or Later? A Decision-making Model for Feeder Cattle Selling”. Agricultural and Resource Economics Review (ARER), 2022. Article of the Year Award.

Given the relatively small industry scale of cow-calf operations in New York to other regions of the country, little is known about differences in determinant values for feeder cattle. Using auction prices and quality characteristics over 7 years, differences in market, lot, and quality parameters suggest opportunities for improved marketing performance. A delta profit model is constructed to inform timing of marketing decisions for producers. The results indicate a relatively high potential for producers to increase farm returns by delaying sales of lighter-weight feeder cattle from the fall to spring auction months, given sufficient rates of gain and reasonable overwintering costs.

2. Sinong Geng, Minhao Yan, Sanmi Koyejo, and Mladen Kolar. “Partially Linear Additive Graphical Models”. International Conference on Machine Learning, 2019 (ICML 2019).

We propose a partially linear additive Gaussian graphical model (PLA-GGM) for the estimation of associations between random variables distorted by observed confounders. Model parameters are estimated using an $L_1$-regularized maximal pseudo-profile likelihood estimator (MaPPLE) for which we prove $\sqrt{n}$-sparsistency. Importantly, our approach avoids parametric constraints on the effects of confounders on the estimated graphical model structure. Empirically, the PLA-GGM is applied to both synthetic and real-world datasets, demonstrating superior performance compared to competing methods.

Papers Under Review:

1. Minhao Yan, Frank Ge, and Miguel I. Gómez. “Risk Management Strategy of Food Safety: The Case of the US Fresh Produce Supply Chain”. Submitted to Food Control, 2024. 

Due to the large demand for fresh produce and increasing foodborne illness outbreaks, maintaining safety along the food supply chain has become crucial for the fresh produce industry and policymakers. Effective strategies to address food safety risks are critical. This study focuses on identifying cost-minimizing strategies to prevent contamination risks in fresh lettuce. A numerical simulation models a regional fresh produce supply chain, integrating product and information flows. The model identifies optimal testing strategies that balance risk control and contamination risks. It highlights the importance of early-stage testing and the cost savings of over 10% through implementing a traceability system. The findings provide insights into the effects of combining testing methods, traceability systems, and recall procedures, considering varying contamination risk levels.

2. Minhao Yan,  Miguel I. Gómez, and Harry Kaiser. “Signaling Impacts of Food Safety Labeling on Customer Demand”. In preparation for submission to PLOS ONE, 2024

Food safety labels are crucial in influencing consumer demand for fresh produce. This study examines the impact of food safety labels on consumer willingness to pay (WTP) for lettuce, mushrooms, and onions through an online choice experiment with 765 participants. We evaluate two label types: a simple pictorial label and a detailed text-based label. Results show consumers generally pay a premium for labeled produce, with the detailed label having a stronger effect, especially for raw-consumed lettuce. Demographic factors like income, gender, and health concerns significantly affect WTP. These findings highlight the importance of clear, standardized food safety labels in boosting consumer confidence and guiding purchasing decisions, offering valuable insights for policymakers and food producers.

Working Papers:

1. Minhao Yan and David R. Just. “Encouraging SNAP enrollment among food pantry clients”. 

This study tests an intervention to increase SNAP enrollment among food pantry clients by simplifying the enrollment process. Participants are randomized into treatment and control groups, with the treatment group receiving simplified information about the first enrollment step. Surveys measure effectiveness at induction and 6-8 weeks later. The research aims to reduce barriers such as time, transportation, stigma, and complexity, offering insights for improved enrollment strategies.

2. Anne T. Byrne, David R. Just, Minhao Yan, and Dongyue Zhang. “An Extra Hour or An Extra Mile? Trade-offs Between Location and Operating Hours Among Rural Food Assistance Services”. 

Access to markets, goods, or services is often measured by distance, but limited operating hours may also prevent consumer access. This study examines rural food pantries in New York State, comparing current locations to scenarios involving moving pantry locations, increasing the number of pantries, and extending operating hours. Using location data for individuals from food-insecure areas, we estimate time and travel costs. Findings suggest that modest changes in operating hours provide substantial improvements in access, informing network management for various assistance services where timing barriers are significant.

3. Minhao Yan, and David R. Just “Investigating the Potential Uses for Behavioral Economic Interventions in Food Choice on Indian College Campuses”. 

Rising incomes in India have increased obesity, especially among college students consuming junk food. This pilot study tests behavioral economic interventions to reduce junk food consumption and promote healthier eating on Indian college campuses. A randomized experiment in two New Delhi college canteens will use visibility, convenience, and messaging to influence food choices. Over eight weeks, sales data will assess the interventions' effectiveness. The study aims to demonstrate low-cost, non-intrusive methods to improve dietary habits among young adults in India.