Research

Abstract: Emerging green technologies, such as solar mini-grids, are changing the global electrification frontier, providing access to electricity for remote rural communities. This work aims to examine the short- and medium-term effects of mini-grid-driven electrification on energy access and the accumulation of human capital in rural India. To identify the causal impact of the mini-grid installations, I exploit the staggered rollout of solar mini-grids across villages from 2014-2022. Utilizing remote imagery data in combination with conventional survey data and a difference-in-differences approach, I find that the installation of mini-grids results in a measurable 21% improvement in energy access (as measured by night-time brightness). The effects are driven primarily by medium and large-scale mini-grid installations. This translates into improved educational outcomes for children in affected communities, with the most pronounced effects observed in high school children. This paper shows that the key channel of these effects is enhanced energy access within households rather than schools. This research suggests that solar mini-grids can offer a cost-effective solution for electrifying remote communities. [Working Paper] 

Abstract: Alcohol control policies are implemented to reduce alcoholism and related harms around the globe. This work examines the effects of a policy that restricted when alcohol could be purchased on child outcomes in Russia. To identify causal impacts, I exploit variation in the timing and severity of the restriction, which was implemented in Russian states between 2005 and 2010. Utilizing household survey data and a difference-in-differences estimation approach, I find that the policy has improved children's physical health, with younger children being more affected, and additionally has decreased a variety of risky behavior indicators. Potential mechanisms for these effects include alcohol consumption, parental employment, household income, family stability, and time use. This work demonstrates that policies controlling parental substance access can have important effects on child health. [Published Version] [Working Paper] 

Abstract: This study provides the first retrospective analysis of the causal impacts of the 2001 US Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Arsenic Rule on arsenic (As) occurrence in public drinking water systems. Using publicly available SDWA compliance data, we employ a difference-in-differences strategy that compares As concentrations before and after the promulgation of the Rule for treatment relative to control water systems, defining treatment based on whether a water system had ever sampled As concentrations above the Rule's 10 micrograms per liter (μg/l) threshold before the Rule was published. We find that annual mean As concentrations in treatment systems fell by almost 5 μg/l (p <0.01) after 2001 relative to control systems, representing a decrease of about 38% compared to pre-treatment levels. In light of the Rule's projected net costs at the time it was promulgated, assessment of the Rule's realized impacts using actual measured As concentrations from a nationwide sample is an important first step in retrospective benefit-cost analysis. [Published Version]  [Online Appendix] 

Abstract: This project investigates the impacts of natural disasters on industrial facilities, aiming to understand and more accurately quantify the social costs associated with climate change, particularly in light of the anticipated increase in the frequency and intensity of these disasters. With a two-fold objective, the study first examines the influence of environmental shocks, such as natural disasters, on industrial facilities' emissions. Additionally, it explores the intricate interplay between these environmental shocks and existing pollution sources, analyzing their effects on downstream health, education, and labor outcomes. To estimate these effects, the study utilizes a Difference-in-Differences empirical approach that leverages the timing and location of near-miss natural disasters. The study also examines the channels through which these effects propagate, drawing on a variety of data sources, including air and water pollution monitoring, satellite data, and citizen environmental complaints.

Abstract: This study investigates the public health impacts and distributional consequences of the 2001 Safe Drinking Water Act’s (SDWA) Arsenic Rule, which tightened the federal drinking water standard for arsenic from 50 to 10 micrograms per liter. Building on prior evidence that the Rule substantially reduced arsenic concentrations in U.S. public water systems, we link administrative data on regulatory compliance, treatment technology adoption, and health outcomes to examine how these improvements translated into measurable gains in population health. Using panel fixed effects models with pre-estimation matching and quasi-experimental techniques we estimate the causal effects of changes in arsenic exposure on health endpoints such as skin, bladder, and lung cancers. We also assess whether the benefits of the Rule accrued equitably across communities, focusing on differences by water system size and the socioeconomic composition of served populations. The findings will provide the first nationwide evidence on the realized health and equity impacts of the Arsenic Rule, informing ongoing discussions about drinking water regulation, environmental justice, and the valuation of health benefits in regulatory analysis.