Doctor's Orders vs Divine Wisdom

Low trust in secular state institutions can limit the effectiveness of informational interventions among religious populations. Recent work has suggested the potential for religious leaders to be utilized for information dissemination, but research directly comparing the efficacy of religious with secular leaders is lacking. Moreover, what, if any, are the unintended consequences of utilizing religious leaders as frontline agents tasked with achieving state goals? In this project, I explore the educational role of local leaders and compare the ability of local religious and secular leaders to encourage positive health behaviors in the context of a state-sponsored handwashing campaign in Punjab, Pakistan. In collaboration with the Pakistan Ministry of Health, I randomize Pakistani couples to meetings with either their local health worker or religious leader (imam) and then evaluate changes in hand hygiene and health beliefs.

The Market for Religious Content: Evidence from Friday Sermons in Pakistan

What drives religious content? In this project, I explore this question from both the demand and supply side in the context of mosques in Punjab, Pakistan. On the demand side, I provide congregants with content information about nearby mosques and evaluate impacts on mosque choice. On the supply side, I provide religious leaders with market information or top-down information and study endogenous changes to sermon content.

The Value of Subordinates: Organizational Hierarchy and Mid-Level Career Progression

with Famy Xia

This project studies how organizational structure shapes career progression for mid-level workers, with a focus on the value created by managing subordinates and coordinating within hierarchy.