Hi! I am a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Development Innovation Lab, part of the Becker Friedman Institute at the University of Chicago.
I completed my PhD (DPhil) at the Department of Economics at the University of Oxford.
My research interests are in development, labour, and behavioural economics. I use randomised and natural experiments to help answer policy questions. My current research studies firm and household behaviour in low-income rural settings.
I am also affiliated with the Bissau Economics Lab, the Centre for the Study of African Economies, and the Mind and Behaviour Research Group.
Selected work in progress
Impact of Market Information on Cashew Producers in Guinea-Bissau
with Brais Álvarez Pereira, Adewusi Mendonça, Dayvikson Raiss Laval Tavares, Sebastian Schäber
Abstract: Does providing market information to smallholder farmers increase their income? To answer this question, we ran a two-level cluster randomized controlled trial among 1988 cashew producers in 290 villages in Guinea-Bissau. Treated producers received free weekly messages to their mobiles during the trading seasons in 2020 and 2021. The messages provided up-to-date market news, farmgate prices, and gave sales advice. We found that treated producers reported higher prices, mostly during the 2021 season. Treated producers sold their cashews more frequently relative to the other producers, who tend to sell their cashews in a single transaction. We explore several mechanisms to understand our results. We find evidence consistent with information increasing the bargaining power of treated producers, who negotiate better sale deals. Moreover, we find that treated producers also changed the timing of their sales to smooth their income over time. We found no evidence of changes in preferences, or increased salience of transactions as a result of the information sent to treated producers. Given the low cost of our intervention, market information can be a cost-effective tool to increase producers’ revenues.
Pre-analysis plan; Draft available upon request.Labour Market Effects of Ethiopia's Social Safety Net
Abstract: This paper assesses how a large transfer programme combining public works and unconditional transfers to food-insecure households in rural Ethiopia affects local labour markets. Using repeated cross-sections of the National Labour Force Survey, I show that the programme did not change employment rates or wages in this rural economy. Instead, I find that workers shifted from agricultural to non-agricultural self-employment. I complement this analysis using data from the Ethiopian Socio-Economic surveys and find similar results. These results are at odds with previous work due to the thinness of rural wage markets in Ethiopia.
Draft available upon request.Working papers
The Future in Mind: Aspirations and Long-term Outcomes in Rural Ethiopia
with Tanguy Bernard, Stefan Dercon, Kate Orkin, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse
[CEPR discussion paper | Draft (09/2023) | Video presentation]
Policy reports
“Investing in Human Capital and Foundational Skills”, with Emily Gardner in Guinea-Bissau Country Economic Memorandum. 2020. World Bank, pp. 47-73.
“Guinea-Bissau Malaria Indicator Survey 2017 Report”, with Amabélia Rodrigues, Cesério Martins, Ronise da Silva, Bruno da Silva, Aladje Balde, Tom Hall. 2018. Bissau Health Project.
Teaching
University of Oxford (undergraduate):
Development Economics (tutorials), Department of Economics, 2023.
Econometrics (tutorials), Merton College, Exeter College, Worcester College, 2022-2023.
Econometrics and Microeconomics (revision classes), Merton College, 2022.
Introductory Microconomics and Statistics (revision classes), Merton College, 2022.
University of Oxford (postgraduate):
Policy Evaluation (seminars), Blavatnik School of Government, 2021.