Research

• "Long-Lasting Effects of Exposure to Bible Translations: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa" [Working Paper, July 2024]
  with Noelia Romero, Abigail Stocker, and Rebecca Thornton 

Abstract: This paper evaluates the impact of early life exposure to Bible translations on education. To estimate causal effects and avoid issues with selection into translation and mission location, we compare educational outcomes across cohorts of individuals within language groups with and without exposure to a Bible translation in their mother-tongue language. We analyze data from a representative sample of approximately 75,000 adults in 13 sub-Saharan African countries using the Demographic and Health Surveys. Our difference-in-differences strategy accounts for the differential timing of Bible translations and the trends in educational outcomes over time within each language group. Individuals born ten years after the first Bible translation are 12 percentage points more likely to be literate later in life and attain 1.3 additional years of education than those born before the translation. Effects do not vary by proximity to missions (either Catholic or Protestant), distance to a printing press, urban area, or religious faith. We provide the first causal evidence of the impact of Bible translations on education.

• "Staple Crop Pest Damage and Natural Resources Exploitation: Fall Army Worm Infestation and Charcoal Production in Zambia"
  with Protensia Hadunka

Abstract: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is home to some of the world's highest deforestation rates. One driver may be negative agricultural shocks that drive households to consume natural resources as a coping mechanism. This paper uses primary household panel data from Zambia to estimate the effect of introducing an agricultural pest, fall armyworms (FAW), on charcoal production. We exploit exogenous variation in the intensity of exposure to FAW across households and years to identify their effect. We find a positive and significant effect of FAW on charcoal production and deforestation. The estimates indicate that the FAW in a village increases the probability of a farmer producing charcoal by 3.48 percentage points, from 22 percent to 25 percent, leading to an increase in deforestation of 13.6 percent. The results also indicate that when methods to mitigate FAW damage are available, farmers are less likely to resort to charcoal production as a coping strategy. Having the ability to reduce the share of maize, use pesticides, or migrate for off-farm employment is associated with successful ways to mitigate the use of charcoal in the face of agricultural production shocks.

• "Regime Fall, Terrorism Activities, and Human Capital Accumulation: Evidence from NATO Intervention in Libya" 

with Togbedji Gansey and Mahounan Yedomiffi

Project Goal: Sahelian countries are experiencing record terrorist activities. Using detailed data on terrorist activities, we investigate how the fall of the Libyan regime in 2011 affected the Sahel region. Results show a significant increase in attacks, deaths, and injuries associated with terrorist activities in the following years after 2011. In ongoing analysis, we investigate how this sudden increase in terrorism impacts children's human capital accumulation and health.