Publications
Money Matters: Evidence from a Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme on Child Health (With Gitanjali Sen) Journal of Human Capital (2025): Vol. 19, No. 3, pp. 435–473.
Abstract: We study the impact of a maternity benefit conditional cash transfer scheme in India on child and maternal outcomes. By leveraging spatial and temporal variations in implementation and eligibility, Difference-inDifferences (DID) matching estimates reveal reduced neonatal mortality. Using variation in transfer size, we establish the importance of cash amount. Meeting conditionalities do not appear to be the key driver. The transfer itself may have increased quality of nutrition and healthcare utilization. The muted effects on maternal outcomes raise concerns regarding fulfilling program conditionalities by mothers. Our findings are robust to sample restrictions, falsification tests, and supported by exact randomization tests.
Working Papers
Connectivity and Crime: The Impact of Broadband Availability on Sexual Assaults in India (With Gitanjali Sen)
Abstract: We study the impact of internet expansion on crimes against women in rural India by constructing a new geocoded village-level dataset on broadband connectivity. Exploiting spatial regression discontinuity around the BharatNet rollout boundary, we find that broadband access increases reported sex crimes across media sources, police FIRs, and administrative crime records. We document a rise in cybercrimes, including cyberstalking and the circulation of obscene materials, supported by faster download and upload speeds. We find greater uptake in mass media consumption among males and younger cohorts. Results are robust to alternative specifications and placebo tests, underscoring the need for digital safeguards.
From Workforce to Grandparenting: Navigating the Challenges of Informal Childcare (With Gitanjali Sen), Submitted
Abstract: This study estimates the causal impact of grandchild care on the labor market outcomes of grandparents amidst the rapid aging and feminization of the global population. Using an instrumental variable approach, we find that grandchild caregiving in co-residing households significantly reduces the employment rate of grandmothers, while no such effect is observed for grandfathers. Our results provide evidence of the labor supply penalty associated with grandmotherhood, shedding light on the unique challenges faced by elderly women in developing countries, where caregiving duties and co-residence norms are prevalent. Furthermore, we explore how family structure and household earning composition influence caregiving roles and labor supply decisions. These insights are critical for policies aimed at enhancing female labor force participation, especially in regions with limited formal childcare options.