My research agenda has two branches. The first focuses on contemporary frictions in labor markets and environment in India, examining their effects on economic efficiency and inequality. This aspect of my work relies on field experiments and primary data collection. The second branch uses history as a lens to understand contemporary social, economic, and political outcomes. This research utilizes digitized historical archives and applies modern quasi-experimental methods to them, enabling causal inference.
I will be an Academy Scholar at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies from 2025 to 2027.
Email : varunk@uchicago.edu
