Published Papers
Evaluating the use of semi-structured crowdsourced data to quantify inequitable access to urban biodiversity: A case study with eBird with Grade, A. M., Chan, N. W., Perkins, D. J., & Warren, P. S. (2022). Plos one, 17(11), e0277223. What is it about? Why this is important?
Solution of Non-Linear Differential Equations by Using Differential Transform Method with Moon, S. D., Bhosale, A. B., & Lonare, G. G. (2014). International Journal of Mathematics and Statistics Invention, 2(3), 78-82.
Working Papers
Weather Shocks, Mitigation Strategies, and the Farmer Suicide Crisis in India (JMP)
300,000 Indian farmers have taken their lives in the past two decades, creating a national crisis. This marginalized population is particularly vulnerable to weather-induced crop failures. I estimate how weather shocks affect suicide rates, and whether government assistance programs can mitigate these effects, among the more than 120,000,000 people in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Using novel village-level data, I find that hot temperatures have a greater effect on farmer suicides than previously believed. I further find that government assistance can greatly reduce the magnitude of these effects. These findings emphasize the role of government programs to solve this crisis.
Unveiling Caste Disparities in Under-Five Mortality in India Using Bayesian Model Averaging and Time Trend Analysis: A
Repeated Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study from 1987 to 2021 with Smita Pakhale (University of Ottawa), Preshit
Ambade (Augusta University), et al. (R&R at Nature Health)
Using a nationally representative dataset and Bayesian modeling, we find that Under-Five Mortality remains disproportionately high
among marginalized communities relative to non-marginalized groups. The findings underscore the need for sustained, well-funded
maternal and child healthcare services to reduce these disparities.
Unintended Benefits of Large Irrigation Project in India with Nilesh Shinde (Indiana University Bloomington) & Matt Woerman (Colorado State University) (Under review at Journal of Development Economics)
While developing countries invest heavily in large-scale irrigation projects, their impact on regional inequality remains poorly understood due to data limitations. This study examines spatial development patterns in Gujarat, India, by analyzing multi-fold earth observation datasets with observed groundwater levels and village-level data. Using boundary regression discontinuity, we estimate the benefits of large-scale irrigation infrastructure. We find that access to canal surface water improves groundwater resources, reducing expenditures on irrigation infrastructure and saving approximately $45 million over 24 years, while improving agricultural production. These results indicate that large irrigation projects can generate substantial benefits, both environmental and economic, for the communities they serve.
Agricultural Digitalization and Environmentally Sensitive Input Applications: Evidence from U.S. Farmers’ Fields with Jonathan McFadden, (Economic Research Service, USDA) & Zach Raff (North Carolina State University)(Draft available upon request)
US agriculture has undergone profound structural change: fewer farms and less land now generate higher levels of output, showing remarkable efficiency gains. We investigate how precision agriculture technologies contribute to these gains by influencing input use and management decisions. Using nationally representative confidential field-level data on U.S. commercial agriculture, we find that variable rate fertilization adopters apply more fertilizer than non-adopters, suggesting a rebound effect. Adopters of precision nutrient application also better time fertilizer for nutrient uptake. These results provide guidance for both farmers and policymakers on fertilizer use, its timing, and environmental regulation.
USDA Subsidies and Tractor Demand: Impacts on Farm Investments with Jonathan McFadden (Economic Research Service, USDA)
USDA agricultural subsidies help stabilize farmers' and ranchers' income by mitigating weather, pest, cost, and price risks, while promoting climate-friendly practices to reduce emissions from the agricultural sector, which accounts for 11% of US greenhouse gas emissions. Applying panel data methods to the county-level information on tractor usage, dealer density, prices, and USDA payments, our data-driven analysis shows that subsidies are positively associated with tractor demand, with a particularly stronger effect for tractors with larger engine sizes. This research contributes to the policy evaluation of agricultural subsidies, supporting sustainable agricultural practices and providing insights into the value of productive farm assets such as tractors.
Moderating Effects of Electrification on the Temperature-Suicide Relationship Among Rural Farmers in India with Jamie T. Mullins (University of Massachusetts Amherst)
Electricity is a crucial factor for agriculture, primarily provided by the government. However, vulnerable farmers often cannot afford diesel-powered generators, and adopting renewable energy remains a distant dream for them. This lack of affordable and reliable electricity adversely affects agricultural output and overall farmer welfare. In our analysis using the temperature response model, we examine how access to electricity can mitigate the relationship between high temperatures and suicide rates among farmers. This research contributes to the broader field of energy economics by analyzing how access to energy infrastructure influences agricultural under climate stress.
Work in Progress
Weather Shocks, Safety Nets, and Agricultural Insurance Adoption with Jamie T. Mullins (University of Massachusetts
Amherst)
Weather Shocks, Regulation, and Compliance: Evidence from India’s Licit Opium Cultivation with Sachin Sisodia (University of Cincinnati)
Dynamics of Caste and Electoral Representation with Jamie T. Mullins (University of Massachusetts Amherst) & Pratik Fulluke (Louisiana State University)
Machine Learning, Caste, and Gender: Disparities and Systematic Discrimination with Pritam Gajbhiye (University of Chicago)
Economics of Conservation and Production Practices with Jonathan McFadden (Economic Research Service, USDA)