Research
Work In Progress
Government Spending, Agglomeration Economies and Regional Industrial Development: Evidence from US Civil War
This study aims to investigates whether temporary economic shocks or government interventions can permanently influence a region’s economic and population trajectory, using the U.S. Civil War (1861-1865) as a historical case. During the Civil War, the majority of the procurement and manufacturing of military supplies were conducted through the Quartermaster (QM) Department, which established local facilities (depots) all over the Union-controlled U.S. I test for market-level effects by comparing counties that received depots for idiosyncratic war-related reasons to counties that were similarly suitable for a depot. This research leverages unique historical evidence and new data on depots, arsenals, military posts, and hospitals from Union government reports. Preliminary results suggest the presence of a depot in a county caused a persistent expansion of manufacturing production & employment and a permanent increase in regional population. The persistence of these effects reflects path-dependence after a one-time intervention rather than continued government spending.
War, State, and the Birth of Industrialism: How Military Production Shaped Manufacturing in the UK
Abstract
The British Industrial Revolution is often attributed to four major factors: industrial organization, technological innovations, capital accumulation, and, to some extent, social change. However, the role of the state is not well understood. In this study, I examine the role played by the British State in the Industrial Revolution, particularly focusing on the dissemination of technology, labor skills, and industrial organization practices from British Ordnance Office projects to other sectors of the economy. The Ordnance Office didn't only offer contracts for military-related production; it also heavily intervened in production through training workers, implementing the division of labor, and more.
The Spillovers of Public Employment Programs on Firms
Abstract
Public programs impact welfare through both direct and indirect effects. The evaluation of government policies is incomplete without accounting for general equilibrium effects. This study estimates the effect of India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) on firm decisions. The results suggest a positive effect on firm-level outcomes. It points towards efficiency gains from the public employment option provided by NREGS.
Development Effects of Historical State: Evidence from Colonial State in India
Abstract
This study examines how historical institutions influence long-run development by leveraging direct-indirect rule in Colonial India. I employ an instrumental variable strategy to compare regions under direct British rule to those governed by princely states. Even decades after decolonization, areas or villages that were once part of princely states have better economic outcomes compared to areas that were under direct British colonial rule. The regions under princely states exhibit greater availability of local public goods and have more developed rural economies, characterized by higher agricultural productivity and non-agricultural employment.
Government Spending , Innovation and Social Mobility: Evidence from US Civil War
This paper examines the impact of spending during the US Civil War on innovation and social mobility. During the Civil War, the majority of the procurement and manufacturing of military supplies were conducted through the Quartermaster (QM) Department, which established local facilities (depots) all over the Union-controlled U.S. I test for market-level effects by comparing counties that received depots for idiosyncratic war-related reasons to counties that were similarly suitable for a depot. This research leverages unique historical evidence and new data on depots, arsenals, military posts, and hospitals from Union government reports. The study utilizes patent data and comprehensive, linked census data to analyze the effects.
Place-Based Industrial Policies and Local Agglomeration: Evidence from Public Sector Plant Construction in India
This paper examines the impact of government-funded plant construction in India after 1947.
Place-Based Industrial Policies and Development: Evidence from an Industrial Subsidy and Concessional Finance Scheme for Backward Areas