Research
Publications
Narantungalag, Odmaa. 2012. ''Escaping the natural resource curse: What can Mongolia learn from Chile?'" Asian Journal of Public Affairs 4(2):39--52.
Working papers
"Large-scale mining and local impact: Evidence from Mongolia"
Asbtract: This paper investigates the economic impacts of mining on household expenditure patterns. Employing the difference-in-differences model and the Mongolia Household Socio-Economic Survey data from 2008 to 2016, I found that mining activities increased household expenditures on food and electricity. Expenditures on health also increased in the resource-producing region without any increase in the level of illness. Interestingly, mining households reduced their expenditures on education, but their educational attainment improved. The findings highlight that the positive impacts of the mining sector are likely to be higher than what is indicated by traditional welfare measurements, such as income and expenditure.
"No pain, no gain? Mining pollution and morbidity" with Syed Hasan and Martin Berka
We investigate the impact of mining pollution on the likelihood of reporting illness by linking geocoded soil pollution information with five rounds of Mongolian Household Socio-Economic Survey data. Using perceived property rent as an instrument, our probit regression results indicate that doubling the distance between a person's residence and nearest mine reduces their probability of feeling unwell by around 7.4 percentage points on average. Individuals also increase their medical expenditure as a result of increased illness. We observe mining pollution to disproportionately hurt younger children. Artisanal and small-scale mines have stronger effects on human health than medium and large-scale mines. Gold mines were observed to be worst, compared to the mines extracting other types of minerals. Our findings suggest that environmental regulations to control/mitigate mining pollution can reduce short- to long-term health risks of the people living near mines.
"The intended and unintended consequences of electricity subsidies: Evidence from Mongolia" with Syed Hasan and Martin Berka
We examine the effectiveness of large electricity subsidies aimed at reducing the consumption of coal for heating and improving the ambient air quality. We exploit a policy change in Mongolia that provides 50--100 percent tariff subsidy on the off-peak hour electricity consumption to households in some selected zones, allowing us to use the difference-in-differences models. Using six rounds of the Mongolia Household Socio-Economic Survey data, we find that households receiving the electricity subsidy increase their overall (subsidized and unsubsidized) electricity expenditure by at least 20 percent more than those who have not received such benefit. The expenditure pattern indicates that households also change their behavior of peak hour and non-winter season electricity consumption when they do not receive any subsidy. The subsidy also reduces air pollution and the likelihood of reporting respiratory illness. Policymakers conducting policy evaluations need to internalize the unintended benefit of the subsidy against the cost of the program.
Current projects
"The local impacts of natural resource-extraction: Evidence from low-income resource-rich African countries" with Oxfam America
"Remedies for corporate human rights abuse in the extractive industries" with Trica Olsen
"The distributional impacts of large electricity subsidies" with Syed Hasan and Martin Berka
Books, book chapters, media articles
Narantungalag, Odmaa. 2018. Development policy planning, monitoring and evaluation. In Buyantsogt, Bat, Gonchigsumlaa, Ganzorig, and Sodnomtseren, Altantsetseg. (Eds.), Green Economy and Modelling, 60--80. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Ravdan, Khatanbaatar, Chuluundorj, Khashchuluun, and Narantungalag, Odmaa. (Eds.) 2016. Mongolia Sustainable Development Vision 2030: Rationale & Scope. Munkhiin Useg Publishing. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Acharya, Sarthi, Narantungalag, Odmaa, Dashzeveg, Chimeddagva, Gochoosuren, Bolormaa, and Gonchigsumlaa, Ganzorig. 2015. Hanbook for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation}. New Press Publishing. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Narantungalag, Odmaa. 2015. Development Policy Planning and Inclusive Growth. Daily News, p. 2. Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.