Publication

Negative income shocks can either be the consequence of risky choices or random events. A growing literature analyzes the role of responsibility for neediness for informal financial support of individuals…

We show that the provision of health insurance reduces levels of self-reported stress and the stress hormone cortisol using a randomized controlled trial among informal workers in Nairobi, Kenya. The…

We find that exposure to a self-efficacy intervention can motivate informationseeking action for environmental causes. Self-efficacy has been shown to be a powerful driver of behavior in a variety of…

In this study we experimentally investigate whether solidarity, which is a crucial base for informal insurance arrangements in developing countries, is sensitive to the extent to which individuals can influence…

This paper examines whether social ties sustain informal insurance when there is imperfect monitoring of effort. I use a laboratory experiment, implemented with residents of slums in Nairobi, Kenya, that…

Contract flexibility can be expedient for economic exchange in environments with high ambiguity and risk, but may also encourage opportunistic behavior. We run a modified investment game, including the choice…

We conduct a randomized experiment to evaluate the effect of a light-touch psychological intervention on psychological wellbeing and economic decision-making in a developing- country setting. Numerous psychological studies suggest that…

Workfare and vouchers are often used in social welfare systems, but little empirical evidence exists on their impact on wellbeing. We conducted a randomized experiment in Kenya, and tested two…

We use a randomized controlled trial to study the response of poor households in rural Kenya to unconditional cash transfers from the NGO GiveDirectly. The transfers differ from other programs…

How do we inspire innovation and growth in the informal manufacturing industry in the developing world? We investigate relieving both physical capital and human capital constraints among informal woodworkers in…