Research

Publications

  1. “The Impacts of Opportunity Zones on Zone Residents” (with M. Freedman and D. Neumark), Journal of Urban Economics: Insights, 2023

  2. “Combining Rules and Discretion in Economic Development Policy: Evidence on the Impacts of the California Competes Tax Credit” (with M. Freedman and D. Neumark), Journal of Public Economics, 2023

  3. “Can Weak Ties Create Social Capital? Evidence from Self-Help Groups in Rural India” (with A. Deshpande), World Development, 2021

  4. “Gender Discrimination in Hiring: An Experimental Re-examination of the Swedish Case” (with A. Ahmed and M. Granberg), PLOS One, 2021

  5. “Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on MSMEs: Evidence from a Primary Firm Survey in India” (with U. Rathore), Economic and Political Weekly, 2021

  6. “Salary History Bans and Wage Bargaining: Experimental Evidence”, Labour Economics, 2020

  7. “Bad Karma or Discrimination?  Male-Female Wage Gaps Among Salaried Workers In India” (with A. Deshpande and D. Goel), World Development, 2018

  8. “Decomposition analysis of earnings inequality in rural India: 2004 – 2012” (with D. Goel, and R. Morissette), IZA Journal of Labor & Development, 2016

In Progress

  • “Firm Responses to State Hiring Subsidies: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from a Tax Credit Formula” (with B. Hyman, M. Freedman and D. Neumark), NBER WP 30664, 2022   

    We examine firm responses to location-based hiring subsidies. We leverage institutional features of the California Competes Tax Credit (CCTC), a large-scale business incentive program that incorporates best practices from prior job creation policies. The CCTC award selection procedure combines formula-based and discretionary components. Leveraging applicant score eligibility cutoffs in a regression discontinuity design and taking advantage of rich longitudinal microdata on establishments and their parent firms, we find that firms expand activity in California in response to CCTC awards, particularly in disadvantaged parts of the state. Moreover, we find little evidence of spillovers to other states. Our results suggest that targeted and audited hiring subsidies can be effective in promoting local business expansions without significant cross-state displacement effects.

  • “An Indian Enigma? Labour Market Impacts of the World’s Largest Livelihoods Program” (with A. Deshpande and D. Walia), GLO Discussion Paper No. 1311, 2023  

    We examine the labour market impacts of the largest livelihoods programs in the world, India’s Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM). A key aspect of this program is to mobilize rural women into self-help groups (SHGs). We combine administrative data on SHG membership across districts in India with survey micro-data on labour force and employment outcomes of rural women between 2011 and 2019. Using a generalized difference-in-differences approach, we find that SHG membership is positively associated with labor force participation and employment of rural women. We also find evidence that SHG membership is associated with a shift towards self-employment and a crowd-out of casual work among the employed. Our supplementary analysis based on large primary survey data from Maharashtra allows us to examine the relationship between SHG membership and economic activity at the individual level. This confirms our main results of a positive association between SHG membership and economic activity. Further, we show that longer duration of SHG membership is associated with higher participation rates.

  • Many Channels of Adjustment to a Higher Minimum Wage: Evidence from Restaurant Reviews     

    Minimum wage changes may induce many responses by affected establishments in addition to, or instead of, changes in employment. Some of these channels are difficult to detect directly or simultaneously with conventional data and methods. Using natural language processing methods on millions of restaurant reviews, this paper examines the impacts of minimum wage changes on prices, friendliness, hygiene, portion sizes, and wait times. I find evidence of a rise in prices and improvements in staff friendliness with higher wages. While there is some weak evidence for deteriorating hygiene standards, there are no detectable impacts on portion sizes or wait times. Overall, these changes are associated with a small but significant drop in restaurant ratings.