Research
In my research program, I apply economic theory and applied econometric tools to understand issues in agricultural markets and impact evaluation of programs and interventions in developed and developing countries. I regularly collaborate with international organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization, World Bank, and the World Food Programme.
My research focuses on market structures, market power, and supply chains in agriculture, and in developing tools for impact evaluations of programs and policies with a particular focus on local-economy general equilibrium impacts. I am also interested in integrating general equilibrium impacts of interventions within agricultural supply chains to provide economic insights and estimations of the direct and indirect benefits of policy interventions.
Secondary research topics include conflicts- and climate-change- induced population displacement such as internal migration, refugee economics, etc. and understanding livelihood diversification and coping strategies for vulnerable households in the face of climate change. I use rigorous experimental and quasi-experimental econometric approaches paired with structural methods and cost-benefit analyses in my program to evaluate and inform policy decisions.
Congolese refugee kids in Nyabiheke Refugee Camp, Rwanda (2015)
Peer-reviewed Publications
"Economic Impact of Nature-based Tourism" with H. Zhu, H. Bhammar, E. Whitney, M. Filipski, U. Narain and J.E. Taylor. PLOS One (forthcoming).
“Economic Impacts of Giving Land to Refugees” with H. Zhu, J. E. Taylor, M. Filipski, J. Valli and E. Gonzalez. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 2023.
"A Local General-equilibrium Emergency Response Modeling Approach for Sub-Saharan Africa" with M. Filipski, J. Kagin et al. Agricultural Economics, 53(1) (2022): 72-89.
"Economic Impacts of COVID-19 lockdown in a Remittance-dependent Region" with H. Zhu, M.K. Doan, A. Michuda and B. Majumder. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Vol. 103 no. 2 (2021): 466-485.
“Short-term Effects of India's Demonetization on the Rural Poor” with H. Zhu, B. Majumder and S. Steinbach. Economic Letters, Vol. 170 (2018): 117-121.
“Is Technology Change Good for Cotton Farmers? A Local-economy Analysis from the Tanzania Lake Zone” with J. Kagin, J. E. Taylor, M. Filipski, L. Hlanze and J. Foster. European Review of Agricultural Economics 45, no. 1 (2017): 27-56.
“Economic Life in Refugee Camps” with M. Alloush, J. E. Taylor, R.I. Rojas and E. Gonzalez. World Development, 95 (2017): 334-347.
“Economic impact of refugees” with J. E. Taylor, M. Filipski, M. Alloush, R. I. Rojas and E. Gonzalez. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 113, no. 27 (2016): 7449-7453.
Working Papers
"Implications of farm size and staple production on rural and urban dietary diversity" with Jessie Lin (U Gottingen). (Under review)
“General Equilibrium Impacts in Imperfect Agricultural Markets: Evidence from the Tanzanian Cotton Industry” Cardon Research Papers in Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Arizona, no. 201901 (2019). (Preparing for submission)
“Unequal Cash Transfer Spillovers” with J. E. Taylor, M. Filipski, K. Thome, B. Davis, L. Pallerano and O. Niang. (Preparing for submission)
“Long-term Impacts of Poverty Programs: A Local-economy Cost-benefit Analysis of Lesotho's Child Grants Programme” with J. E. Taylor, B. Davis, L. Pallerano and O. Niang (Preparing for submission)
Work in Progress
"The Interaction of Convenience and Market Structure in Food Markets" with George Davis (Virginia Tech)
"Local Economy Impacts of Kenya’s Home-grown School Meals Programme." with J. E. Taylor and M. Doan (UC Davis) and E. Gonzalez-Estrada (WFP)
“Climate Migration and Impacts on Household Financial Activities: Evidence from the Sundarbans Region in India.” with M. Doan, H. Zhu, A. Michuda (UC Davis), and I. Chowdhury (UW Seattle)