Research

Working Papers

Superstar Firms, Social Mobility, and the Cultural Right (Job Market Paper)
Presented at: Doctorissimes; Junior Research Day; QMUL Economics and Finance PhD and Post-Doc Workshop

Abstract

Could the rise of superstar firms help explain the rise of the cultural right? This paper leverages differential exposure to the rise of superstar firms as employers in Brazil to investigate this question. At market level, increases in superstar firms’ labor market share lead to sizable increases in support for politicians linked to the cultural right. These effects are accompanied by substantial improvements in the labor market outcomes of low-education workers. At a more granular level, the ZIP codes that swing to the right are (i) the most culturally conservative and (ii) the ones in which absolute upward social mobility takes place. Taken together, the evidence suggests an interpretation whereby the superstar economy, by raising the income of conservative citizens, allows them to prioritize their cultural preferences on the ballot. Descriptive evidence from voter surveys is in line with this interpretation.

Political Accountability and Bureaucratic Selection — with Kelly Santos (Insper)
[Revise & Resubmit at the Journal of Public Economics]
Presented at: HEC Economics PhD Conference; LACEA LAMES Annual Meeting; LISS DTP Summer Symposium; Naples School of Economics and Finance PhD and Post-Doctoral Workshop; Tor Vergata Ph.D. Conference; QMUL End-of-Year Research Conference

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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