Research


Working papers

Lessons from the application of the instrumental variable (IV) research design to sudden immigration shocks  (Revise & Resubmit)

Abstract: The Instrumental Variable (IV) approach is commonly used to solve the endogeneity of migrants' decisions on where to locate. Using the example of the Venezuelan migration shock to Peru, I use the shift-share IV approach to show that a sudden migration shock cannot be predicted by past migration simply because past migration is little or insignificant. When there is no historical previous influx of migrants to the destination location, I encourage contributors to the migration literature to report detailed statistical analyses of instrumental variables.

Long-Lasting Effects of Exposure to Bible Translations: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa (With Vinicius Oakada Da Silva, Abigail Stocker, and Rebecca Thornton) (Submitted )

 

Abstract: This paper evaluates the impact of early life exposure to mother-tongue Bible translations in the 1980s on adult educational outcomes. We analyze data from a sample of approximately 75,000 adults in the Demographic and Health Surveys in 13 sub-Saharan African countries. Our difference-in-differences strategy compares educational outcomes within and across ethno-linguistic groups and accounts for the differential timing of Bible translations and trends in outcomes over time. Individuals born ten years after the first-known Bible translation for their ethno-linguistic group have an 11 percentage point increase in the likelihood of being literate as adults, a gain of 1.2 years of education, and a 17 percentage point gain in the likelihood of completing primary school. Effects do not vary greatly by gender or by regional prevalence of Muslim faith. We discuss possible mechanisms underlying our results, finding evidence of the potential importance of complementarities with inputs concentrated around historical missions.


The Venezuela diaspora: Evidence from the Peruvian labor market  (Job Market Paper)

Abstract: This paper studies the effect of a 7.5% increase of the 2017 working-age population due to the unprecedented inflow of Venezuelan immigrants on Peruvian employment and wages in Lima and Callao. The Peruvian labor market's main features are (1) a large informal sector with only 28% of workers covered by employer health insurance, and (2) a relatively low-skilled workforce, two-thirds of whom have obtained a high school degree or less (INEI, 2018). Using a difference-in-difference approach, I compare the labor market outcomes in high-immigrant and low-immigrant neighborhoods between 2014 and 2018. Findings show that on average employment is 2 percentage point greater and 2% weekly wages fewer in high-immigration neighborhoods than low-immigration areas after 2017. These effects on Peruvian labor market outcomes are driven by the formal sector and primarily affect low-skilled Peruvians. The results imply that the immigration shock did not crowd out Peruvian-born employment, nor the less skilled workers who usually are also constrained by the minimum wage policy.

 Paper presentations:


Five Decades of Early Marriage in the Developing World (With Robert Jensen, Abigail Stocker, and Rebecca Thornton)


Abstract: We document five decades of early marriage among women and men in 24 developing countries. Using data from the Demographic and Health Surveys, we examine trends in early marriage and its relationship with well-being, domestic violence, women's roles in the household, and views on women's status. We find that rates of early marriage among women decreased from 40% to 30% on average and rates among men remained constant between 2% and 10%. Boys and girls who marry before 18 have less education and a lower age at first birth. Girls who marry before 18 have less influence on household spending and decision-making and are more likely to view domestic and sexual violence as justified. Boys who marry before 18 are more likely to justify perpetuating domestic violence. Both men and women who marry early are poorer, but there are no significant differences in working status by age of marriage.


 Conferences: 

Seminars

Work in progress

How do political cycles affect education in a middle-income country? Evidence from Peruvian schools (With Yue Bao and Mateo Fernandez)

 

Non-Peer-reviewed publication

 

Big data y comercio electrónico: desafíos para la integración

With Walter Sosa Escudero

Integración y Comercio. 21, no. 42: p. 166-178. 2017