Research

Working Papers

Formal Jobs and the Cultural Right (Job Market Paper)

Abstract

The rise of culturally conservative politicians has been one of the most consequential political developments of recent decades. In large emerging democracies, this trend has coincided with significant reductions in poverty, partly driven by improvements in the allocation of labor. This paper hypothesizes that the reallocation of labor toward large firms—by fostering the growth of a conservative middle class—can help explain the rise of the cultural right. To test this hypothesis, the paper leverages geocoded administrative data and differential exposure to the rise of large firms as employers in Brazil. The findings show substantial increases in support for the cultural right, driven by low-income conservatives who experience upward mobility.

Political Accountability and Bureaucratic Selection — with Kelly Santos (Insper)
[Accepted at the Journal of Public Economics]

Abstract

The selection of public sector employees is crucial to state effectiveness. Given politicians' influence on bureaucracies, could political accountability improve bureaucratic selection? Using randomized audits and individual-level data on Brazil's public sector employees, this paper finds that audits enhance the quality of the bureaucracy. The results are driven by politicians' increased incentive to perform well in office, stronger recruitment effort, and a reduction in patronage.

Work in Progress

Mergers and Public Service Delivery — with Juan-Andres Castro (QMUL)

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