Research & Projects

This study examines how to improve selection methods for Indonesia’s Kartu Prakerja program to maximize labor market outcomes. Using the cross-sectional Indonesia Labor Force Survey (Sakernas), I model application decisions, selection criteria, and effects of the program on employment and income. The dataset includes detailed information on whether individuals know about, applied to, and were accepted into the program. To extend the analysis, I incorporate the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) to simulate lifetime income as their main application decision, treating stigma as a cost of participation. The primary contribution will be a counterfactual analysis of alternative selection methods that can be applied to general job training programs, particularly in developing countries, with the goal of maximizing labor market outcomes for both the overall population and key subgroups.

with Steven Stern

Informal employment is a defining feature of labor markets in developing countries and is shaped by a notable gender dimension: women are overrepresented in informal work. A key reason is the flexibility it provides, offering adaptable hours which helps women balance paid and unpaid responsibilities. This paper investigates the determinants of women’s participation in the informal sector and the impact of informal work on labor market outcomes. The analysis shows that women with lower educational attainment, those who are married, and those with young children are more likely to work informally, whereas access to childcare lowers this likelihood. Informal employment is associated with a 24.5 percent reduction in monthly wages and a decline of 5.2 working hours per week. These findings highlight the importance of reforms in both education and the formal sector, such as flexible work options, family leave policies, and affordable childcare, to reduce women’s reliance on informal employment.