David Frisvold, PhD

Contact Information

Office: W374 PBB
Phone: 319-335-0957
Faculty Profile


Brief description of current research:

Professor Frisvold’s research interests include health economics and the economics of education. He is interested in understanding whether and how public policies targeted towards children influence their health and education outcomes, and his research specifically focuses on childhood obesity, soft drink taxes, early childhood education, school quality, and food assistance programs.

3 most influential diabetes/obesity/metabolism publications: 

  • “The Effects of Soft Drink Taxes on Child and Adolescent Consumption and Weight Outcomes” (with J. Fletcher and N. Tefft), Journal of Public Economics, 2010, 94(11-12), 967-974.
  • “Expanding Exposure: Can Increasing the Daily Duration of Head Start Reduce Childhood Obesity?” (with J. Lumeng), Journal of Human Resources, 2011, 46(2), 373-402.
  • “The Impact of Physical Education on Obesity among Elementary School Children,” (with J. Cawley and C. Meyerhoefer), Journal of Health Economics, 2013, 32(4), 743-755.