Abstract: Misinformation poses serious risks for democratic governance, conflict, and health. This study evaluates whether sustained, classroom-based education against misinformation can equip schoolchildren to become more discerning consumers of information. Partnering with a state government agency in Bihar, India, we conducted a field experiment in 583 villages with 13,500 students, using a 4-month curriculum designed to build skills, shift norms, and enhance knowledge about health misinformation. Intent-to-treat estimates demonstrate that treated respondents were significantly better at discerning true from false information, altered their health preferences, relied more on science, and reduced their dependence on unreliable news sources. We resurveyed participants 4 months post-intervention and found that effects persisted, as well as extended to political misinformation. Finally, we observe spillover effects within households, with parents of treated students becoming more adept at discerning information. As many countries seek long-term solutions to combat misinformation, these findings highlight the promise of sustained classroom-based education.

Abstract: TBD

Abstract: Political representation and protests or political violence are often seen as substitutes. This idea underlies prominent theories of democratization as a way to prevent uprisings. Empirical support for this claim draws on various enfranchisement episodes to show that protests subside when minority groups get political representation, and that political violence erupts when large groups get excluded from power. Using as context the recent legislation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India – a law perceived to disenfranchise Muslims – and the subsequent anti-CAA protests, we show that representation can also play a complementary role in facilitating protests. Employing a close election regression discontinuity design we find that having a Muslim state representative significantly increased the likelihood of an anti-CAA protest in their constituency, but did not affect the likelihood of other protests. The result is not driven by party identity or incumbency of the legislator. The effect is largest in states with a low share of Muslim legislators, or where no Muslim legislators are in the state’s ruling coalition. We find suggestive evidence that Muslim legislators provide a coordination service as a mechanism driving the protests.

Abstract: How do electoral quotas focused on a single dimension of identity affect the representation of other disadvantaged identities? I examine the impact of quotas for historically marginalized groups on women's representation in local politics. I argue that these quotas influence women's representation through two channels: differential gender norms across social groups and distinct political dynamics in quota versus non-quota seats. Using quasi-random variation in the assignment of caste quotas for council member seats in rural Maharashtra, I find that seats with quotas for marginalized caste groups have a higher likelihood of women running for and winning political office compared to seats without quotas. The increased women's candidacy is driven by more favorable gender norms among marginalized castes, while higher women's electoral success stems from increased supply of women candidates and lower political competition. This paper demonstrates how social norms and political dynamics shape the spillover effects of electoral quotas on political representation.

Abstract: This study from the Norwegian HUNT cohort investigated how women’s reproductive history affects their risk of developing atrial fibrillation (AF) after age 45. AF is a common heart rhythm disorder that is a risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and other complications. We found that women who had four or more children had a 21% higher risk of developing AF compared to those with two children. Also, women who had their first child before age 20 had a 20% higher risk of AF compared to those who gave birth between ages 20 and 29. These findings suggest that teenage birth and frequent childbirth may influence long-term heart health. Social factors like education and income, which often relate to when and how many children women have, may play a role. The study highlights the importance of considering reproductive history in women’s heart health assessments.