WORKING PAPERS
“Effects of a Conditional Cash Transfer for Maternal and Infant Health with 29 Million Beneficiaries.”
Abstract: This paper presents evidence on the effects of a nationwide conditional cash transfer program designed to incentivize health-promoting behaviors and its impact on health outcomes. Moreover, this is the first to examine the effects of India’s largest conditional cash transfer program in terms of the number of beneficiaries, Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana (PMMVY). The difference-in-differences and event-study analyses leverage variation in program eligibility by birth order to identify causal effects. Using the National Family Health Survey data, the results indicate that the PMMVY had no measurable impact on health outcomes, including pregnancy registration, antenatal care visits, maternal anemia, birth weight, and child vaccination.
“Subjective Economic Hardships during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United States.”
(with Erdal Asker and Shatakshee Dhongde)
Abstract: In this paper, we measure multidimensional hardships experienced by Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic. We use a unique household survey data between 2018 and 2021 to compile information on self-reported economic hardships such as the inability to pay bills or afford health care, unemployment, and experiencing financial strain. We combine the household survey data with state-level data on lockdown measures. We find that a stricter lockdown was associated with a greater number of hardships. During the pandemic, 28 percent or almost 1 in 3 adults experienced multiple hardships. Hardships were particularly high among women, and among Black, and Hispanic populations. Our results underscore the fact that the pandemic compounded hardships experienced by Americans and left a long-lasting impact on their well-being.