Examining GLP-1s usage using data on 1.4M diabetic or obese veterans finds that PCP adoption drives large metabolic improvements matching trials—but no short-run cuts to emergency department use or medical spending, from Bock, Moshfegh, and @jzhangecon.bsky.social www.nber.org/papers/w34667

Two new preprints on the efx of GLP-1s just dropped. They use different samples, data, & designs. But they come to the same conclusion on one point: GLP-1s do not generate meaningful short- to medium-run reductions in non-GLP-1 medical spending, despite clear health benefits.

🚨Do GLP-1s “pay for themselves”? We study real-world impacts at scale. An estimated 1 in 8 Americans have tried GLP-1s. But beyond clinical trials, we know surprisingly little about their real-world effects. Paper: nber.org/papers/w34667 (w/ @jasminmoshfegh.bsky.social & Sam Bock) 🧵1/10

We examine how bias in a widely used medical device against individuals with darker skin tones propagates into disparities in subsequent medical treatment