Publications
"Economic Penalties based on Neighborhood, and Wealth Building" (with Rowena Gray) in Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Economics and Finance, 2023, Oxford University Press
Working Papers
From Ancient Centers to Modern Capitals: The Influence of Historic Civilizational Hubs on the Spatial Distribution of Population and Political Power (with Justin Cook and Kris Gulati) - Latest Draft
Abstract: This paper examines the long-term impact of historic civilizational hubs on the modern spatial distribution of population and political power. Using a novel geolocalized dataset of approximately 500 historical civilizations from 1000 CE to 1500 CE, we explore how proximity to ancient civilizational centers influences both historical and contemporary economic and political outcomes. We find that regions closer to the center of historical civilizations consistently had higher populations and that this centrality has persistent effects, as evidenced by the location of political capitals. Using night-time lights data as a proxy for economic activity, we further demonstrate that the influence of historical centrality extends to present-day economic performance. Our results contribute to the literature on economic persistence by showing that historical centers of state organization continue to shape economic geography and political structures in the modern era.
The Effect of a Sibling's Gender on Family Formation: Exploring Heterogeneity by Race and Gender (with Jose Rosa and Eujean Byun) - Latest Draft
Abstract: This paper examines the effect of sibling sex composition on marriage outcomes in the United States using a comprehensive, newly-constructed dataset from Texas covering individuals born between 1976-1997. Leveraging both singleton and twin analyses, we find robust evidence that having a same-sex sibling significantly increases the likelihood of marriage and accelerates marriage timing. We also reveal substantial heterogeneity across racial groups: White individuals consistently show strong effects, while Black and Hispanic populations sometimes exhibit distinctive patterns, including reduced divorce rates for Black men with same-sex twins and delayed marriage for Hispanic men. Furthermore, we document significant wealth-based variation, with sibling sex effects on marriage predominantly present in affluent counties. This socioeconomic divide suggests that parental resource allocation strategies, sibling relationships, and cultural marriage norms vary substantially by wealth status. Our results illuminate the complex interplay between family structure, economic conditions, and cultural factors in shaping marriage decisions, highlighting the critical importance of considering both racial background and socioeconomic context when studying family formation patterns.
Korean Free Economic Zones (KFEZs) and Regional Unemployment (with Youngbin Kim)
Abstract: This study examines the labor market impact of Korean Free Economic Zones (KFEZs) on regional unemployment and economic inactivity. KFEZs, first introduced in Busan and Incheon in 2003, were designed to attract foreign investment through tax exemptions, tariff reductions, and regulatory incentives. Using monthly panel data from 16 South Korean regions between 2000 and 2020, this research applies the Generalized Synthetic Control (GSC) method to address challenges of staggered treatment adoption and violations of the parallel trends assumption. Contrary to the expectation that KFEZs would stimulate job creation and economic participation, results indicate that treated regions experienced a small but statistically significant increase in unemployment rates (0.15 percentage points) and a substantial rise in the economically inactive population (approximately 89,000 individuals). These findings suggest that, rather than improving labor market outcomes, KFEZs may introduce structural shocks that increase economic inactivity in long term.