Job Market Paper

Language Barriers, Internal Migration, and Labor Markets in General Equilibrium

[Link to Paper]

Abstract: This paper studies how language barriers impact internal migration, the skill premium, and aggregate welfare using rich microdata from India applied to a quantitative spatial general equilibrium framework. I first document four empirical facts: (1) workers migrate less often to locations where they face high language barriers; (2) migrants with high language barriers are employed less often in speaking-intensive occupations; (3) migrants with high language barriers get a wage premium; and (4) these patterns are strongest for unskilled workers. To explain these facts, I then develop and estimate a static migration model in which heterogeneous workers sort across occupations and locations by skill and language, with wages accounting for worker selection and adjusting in general equilibrium. I show through the lens of the model how language barriers, by increasing worker sorting and selection, significantly obstruct internal migration, augment skill premium, and reduce aggregate welfare. As economies shift towards services, language barriers increasingly impede aggregate gains due to the rising prevalence of speaking-intensive occupations. In the absence of language barriers—relative to observed changes—structural change would have increased aggregate welfare by 1.9 percent. Finally, I calibrate costs of both program provision and learning languages to evaluate potential benefits of language programs for unskilled migrants. Using the calibrated model, I argue that welfare benefits of implementing language programs would outweigh costs.

Presentations

2024: Urban Economics Association European Meeting (Copenhagen, Denmark), Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta Brownbag, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia Brownbag, Trade and Development Brownbag (PSU)

2023: Midwest Economics Association (Cleveland), Canadian Economics Association (Winnipeg, Canada), European Trade Study Group (Surrey, UK), Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia PFMAP Brownbag, Trade and Development Brownbag (PSU), Applied Microeconomics Brownbag (PSU)

Work in Progress

Climate Uncertainty and Temporary Migration 

w. Tim Dobermann and Yinong Tan

Using district-to-district migration data from the Indian Census, we show that areas with higher mean and variance of adverse climate conditions experience increased out-migration, with many households engaging in temporary migration. We develop a dynamic spatial equilibrium model with agricultural productivity uncertainty, migration costs, and concave household utility to explain these patterns. The model predicts that greater agricultural income uncertainty increases rural out-migration. We show that moderate uncertainty encourages temporary migration as a risk-sharing strategy, while severe uncertainty pushes entire households to migrate permanently. Using the estimated model, we quantify how climate variability affects migration patterns and household structure. In future work, we plan to evaluate whether migration could serve as an effective adaptation strategy to climate-induced agricultural productivity losses and analyze its implications for climate policy in developing countries.

Working Papers

Criminal Politicians, Political Parties, and Selection 

[Link to Paper]

Abstract: I study how criminally accused candidates win three times more often than non-criminals upon nomination using data from four recent parliamentary elections in India. I write a simple model of party nomination choice, which predicts that criminals are nominated only when they are needed to win and not otherwise. Using local linear regressions, I confirm this prediction in the data. In particular, I find that the predicted probability from the ex post decision to nominate a criminal has an inverse-U relationship with a party's ex ante margin of victory. This may explain why criminal candidates are more successful than non-criminal candidates upon nomination: they are selected by political parties to do so.

Presentations

2023: International Economic Association World Congress (Medellin, Colombia)

2022: Midwest Political Science Association (Chicago), Annual Conference on Economic Growth and Development (ISI Delhi, India), Applied Microeconomics Brownbag (PSU)

Instructor, Pennsylvania State University

Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy (Summer 2022)

Teaching Assistant, Pennsylvania State University

Migration and Development (Fall 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024)

Political Economy (Spring 2022)

Intermediate Microeconomic Analysis (Spring 2021, Fall 2021)

Introductory Microeconomic Analysis and Policy (Fall 2019, Fall 2020)

Statistical Foundations for Econometrics (Spring 2020) 

Non-Academic Writing

Splitting Hairs, The Booming Wig Trade between India and Africa, The Caravan Magazine, December 2017

Bone of Contention, An Andhra Pradesh Family's Generations-Old Method of Treating Fractures, The Caravan Magazine, August 2017