By Betsy Q. Cliff
In the last issue of the ASHEcon Newsletter, we introduced a new feature on Productivity and we’re going to attempt to feature a different health economist in each issue. This time, we’re featuring Laura Wherry, an associate professor of economics and public service at NYU Wagner who researches the impact of public programs on health and economic well-being in the United States. She also served on the President’s Council of Economic Advisors from 2024-2025.
How is productivity judged in your job?
Productivity is largely measured by research success, which usually means publishing in high-impact journals
How do you decide what to work on each day or week?
That is my favorite type of day! I try to “eat the frog” by tackling my hardest tasks, like writing or research that requires high startup costs, first thing when my mind is at its sharpest. I also prefer to focus on one project for the day, if possible. I try to leave other tasks like email and referee reports for later in the day when I’ve started to run out of steam on my own research.
You have a workday with minimal meetings. How do you structure it?
That is my favorite type of day! I try to “eat the frog” by tackling my hardest tasks, like writing or research that requires high startup costs, first thing when my mind is at its sharpest. I also prefer to focus on one project for the day, if possible. I try to leave other tasks like email and referee reports for later in the day when I’ve started to run out of steam on my own research.
Flip side: you have a really busy month with nonstop obligations. Are you still making time to do research? If so, how and when?
It’s hard. I try to maintain a set of regular working hours even when things are busy, so there are periods when I don’t accomplish a lot research-wise. And I try to be ok with that.
Do you have a favorite productivity tool? If so, how do you use it?
I’m pretty old school. I have a task list for the week that I keep in Excel and use to mark off tasks when they are complete. I also find the Bullet Journal method to be really helpful, which is a way to quickly organize and keep track of tasks on pen and paper. I learned the method from this short video.
How do you avoid burnout?
As already mentioned, I try to maintain a set of regular working hours – and to not think about work when I leave the office. Easier said than done, of course, but I try! I also aim to keep work fun by having collaborators that I enjoy working with, taking short breaks to chat with colleagues, and of course —finding projects that I’m excited about.