Research
Research Interests
Public Economics, Environmental Economics, Development Economics
Work in Progress
The Impact of the Free Sanitary Pads Scheme on Schoolgirls' Dropout Rates
This paper evaluates the effectiveness of a free sanitary pad distribution program on female education outcomes in India. Using household-level data and an Intention-to-Treat Difference-in-Differences approach, I compare educational outcomes in Uttar Pradesh (treatment state) with Madhya Pradesh (control state). Results show that the program significantly reduced female dropout rates by 4.6 percentage points. The benefits extend beyond retention, as girls exposed to the program demonstrated improved learning outcomes: their arithmetic skills increased by 8 percentage points and reading skills by 5.2 percentage points. These findings suggest that addressing menstrual health needs can substantially improve girls' educational attainment and learning outcomes in developing countries.
Rural Health Outcomes and Digital Infrastructure: Evidence from the USDA ReConnect Program
I examine the rollout of the USDA's pilot broadband ReConnect program as a source of exogenous variation to assess the impact of improved Internet speed on health outcomes. Using census tract-level data on Internet speed from the Federal Communication Commission and health metrics from CDC Places: Local Data for Better Health (2017–2020), I estimate the program's effects. A difference-indifference (DID) econometric approach reveals that broadband grants and loans increased average Internet speeds by 40 Mbps in treated rural and underserved counties. Furthermore, improved broadband access is associated with reductions in obesity rates and improvements in mental health outcomes.
Beyond Volatility: Key Factors Driving Renewable Energy's Impact on U.S. Wholesale Electricity Prices
[Project in development]
Spatial Correlation of Renewable Forecast Errors: Impact on Balancing Costs and Price Formation in the Southwest Power Pool
[Project in development]
Research Experience
Research Assistant
Department of Economics, University of Nevada, Reno
May 2021-July 2021
Worked as Data Analyst under Professor Sankar Mukhopadhyay on research investigating how Economic Impact Payments decreased food insecurity. Cleaned and merged USDA and Census Bureau datasets, calculated food insecurity rates by demographic groups, and ran regression analyses to quantify the causal effect of stimulus payments on household food access.
Served as Data Analyst for another research on how Medicaid expansion protected mental health during pandemic job losses. Combined state-level employment data with health insurance claims, built panel datasets tracking mental health indicators pre- and post-expansion, and conducted difference-in-differences analyses to measure Medicaid's protective effect on mental health outcomes.