Research

Cotton Boom, Childhood Burden: The consequences of genetically modified cotton adoption for child health in North India

(Working Paper; draft;  JMP)

Abstract: "Over the past two decades, genetically modified (GM) crops have transformed global agriculture, yet their broader health consequences remain contested. This paper examines the medium- and long-term impact of Bt cotton adoption, a pest-resistant variety introduced in India in 2002, on infant mortality. Using geo-referenced data from the National Family and Health Surveys and spatial variation in agro-climatic cotton suitability across Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan, I implement a difference-in-differences design that exploits the staggered diffusion of Bt cotton. I find that adoption is associated with a significant increase in infant mortality: locations in the top two quintiles of cotton suitability experienced increases of about 0.77 percentage points relative to low-suitability areas. The results are robust to alternative estimators that account for staggered adoption, state-year shocks, and local confounders, as well as to placebo tests and triple-difference specifications. Evidence on mechanisms suggests that rising seed costs and increased maternal labor participation contributed to the observed health effects. These findings highlight unintended consequences of technological change in smallholder agriculture, underscoring the need to evaluate agricultural innovations not only in terms of productivity but also in terms of human development and child well-being."

Data: National Family and Health Surveys, FAO-GAEZ, Administrative data from the Indian Ministries of Agriculture and Textiles, 2001 Census of India.

Presented in (and scheduled *) University College Dublin PhD Seminar, Bristol Applied Economic Meetings (University of Bristol)*, 39th Annual Conference of the European Society for Population Economics* (University of Helsinki)

Banks protecting children? Agricultural income shocks, child health and financial development in rural India 

(Working Paper; draft;  Submitted

Abstract: "In this study, I examine the influence of financial infrastructure on child health outcomes in rural India, with a specific focus on how enhanced access to rural banks can mitigate the adverse effects of agricultural income shocks. I analyze data from the National Family and Health Surveys (NFHS), integrating them with local agricultural income fluctuations, as determined by the interaction between global agricultural price fluctuations and local agricultural conditions, alongside local indicators of financial development. The findings reveal that proximity to rural banks significantly mitigates the detrimental impacts of these shocks on child health. This challenges the conventional notion that rural communities with limited financial sector access experience minimal benefits. Instead, it uncovers the indirect yet substantial advantages of expanded financial accessibility in safeguarding children's health during economic instability."

Data: National Family and Health Surveys, FAO-GAEZ, World Bank Agricultural Prices, Reserve Bank of India Master Office Files, Socioeconomic High-resolution Rural-Urban Geographic Platform for India (SHRUG) (Asher et a. 2019)

Presented in (and scheduled *) Journées LAGV Conference (Aix-en-Marseille School of Economics), Workshop on Fertility, Health, and Human Capital (Queens' University Belfast), IPECE Conference (University College Dublin), RGS Doctoral Conference (Universität Duisburg-Essen), Webinar Series in Finance and Development, German Development Conference (Leibniz Universität Hannover),  QMUL Economics & Finance Workshop (Queen Mary University London), International Conference on Development Economics (Aix-en-Marseille School of Economics).

The Intergenerational Transmission of Health in the long-run: Exploring dynamic patterns across Africa

(Working Paper; draft)

Abstract: "In this study I examine patterns of intergenerational health transmission across 29 African countries over 40 years (1975–2015), using data on 4.5 million children from 104 Demographic and Health Surveys. We look at  maternal height and sibling mortality as indicators of maternal health and child mortality as a measure of child health. Our findings reveal a strong persistence of intergenerational health, with significant variations across countries. Using the Phillips & Sul (2007) dynamic clustering methodology, we identify distinct convergence clubs and highlight the roles of economic development, public health provision, and maternal education in shaping these dynamics. The results offer insights into health inequalities and intergenerational mobility in Africa."

Data: Demographic & Health Surveys (29 countries), World Bank Development Indicators, V-Dem

Presented in (and scheduled *) University College Dublin PhD Seminar, 2nd Annual Conference of the French Association of Population Economists – AFÉPOP (Aix-en-Marseille School of Economics), International Conference on Empirical Economics (Pennsylvania State University Altoona), Applied Macro & Empirical Finance Conference (University of Macedonia), YIESS (Trinity College Dublin), Applied Demography Conference (Population Association of America), 38th Irish Economic Association Annual Conference*.

Early-Life Famine Exposure and Later-Life Cognitive Outcomes in Rural Malawi 

with F.Kampfen (University College Dublin), H.-P. Kohler, I.Kohler & H.Purcell  (University of Pennsylvania)

(Work in progress ; analysis)

Abstract: "This paper studies the long-run effects of early-life famine exposure on cognitive outcomes in adulthood using longitudinal data from the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health (MLSFH). We exploit spatial and cohort-level variation in exposure to severe food shortages during early childhood and in utero periods. The results show that famine exposure in early life is associated with significantly lower cognitive performance later in life, with effects persisting decades after exposure. The analysis highlights the lasting consequences of early-life nutritional shocks and the role of early-life conditions in shaping human capital and ageing outcomes in low-income settings."

Data: Malawi Longitudinal Survey of Familieds and Health 

Presented in (and scheduled *) 

Health Convergence and Inequality Across Cohorts and Countries 

with A.Zervoyianni (University of Patras)

(Working in progress ; early stage work)

Maternal Mortality over time and space

with A.Zervoyianni (University of Patras)

(Work in progress ; early stage work)