Trinity Term 2022 — Talks & Materials
By Danyal Khan
Broad Topic: Applied Microeconomics. Specific Topic: Charitable Fundraising, Structural Estimation.
Abstract
Fundraising is a form of investment for charities: they invest a certain amount on marketing each year and expect to generate a return in the form of donations. Data seems to show a positive association between fundraising spending and donations, but does this accurately reflect the causal returns on the fundraising efforts? I will present a structural model which characterises the revenue generation and decision making of charities, in addition to an empirical strategy which enables identification of the own charity returns, spillover effects and strategic effects between charities. I find (extremely) tentative evidence that the collective returns outweigh the individual returns amongst Green Charities in the UK, as fundraising by one charity encourages fundraising by other charities (strategic complementarity), and also generates higher returns for other charities (positive spillovers). I will also discuss the limitations of using the fundraising ROI as a measure of fundraising efficiency, the effect of competition in the charity sector and the implications of these findings for charity managers and regulators.
By Carissa Chen and Aditya Dhar
Broad Topic: Macroeconomics. Specific Topic: Unconventional Monetary Policy, Heterogeneous impacts of QE.
Abstract
We estimate a causal effect of QE1 on quarterly wage income in every county in the U.S including Puerto Rico. For each of the 3,195 counties, we run difference-in-differences regressions with controls for county-level ARRA transfers, local tax rate, manufacturing shares, population, and time fixed-effects. We then construct a national index of geography of ZLB-constrained monetary policy effectiveness, relate effects to county characteristics, and test robustness using VARs. Substantial heterogeneity exists: many counties show significant wage-income responses; characteristics like taxes, education, urbanization and political leaning predict stronger effects. The paper highlights large distributional impacts of QE constrained by the zero-lower bound.
By Marco Cokic
Broad Topic: Economic History. Specific Topic: Trade History of Socialist Countries.
Abstract
This essay discusses the impact of four Socialist countries accession to GATT (1966–1973). Results suggest signing GATT is associated with a 35–81% increase in export volume and small but meaningful welfare gains in three of four countries. Given methodological limits, these results can be seen as lower-bound effects and imply trade deals across differing political-economic systems can be beneficial.
By Garima Rastogi
Broad Topic: Development Economics, Applied Microeconomics. Specific Topic: Gender Economics, Education Economics.
Abstract
Using staggered introduction of a ban on sex-selective abortions across Indian states, this paper finds the ban increased female births and widened the gender gap in educational attainment: females in affected states are less likely to complete Grade 10/12 and enter university. Effects concentrate among poorer households unable to evade the ban; mechanisms point to postnatal discrimination and lower investments in surviving females.
26/05 — Lessons from implementing algorithmic school choice in Sweden
By Nils Lager
Broad Topic: Microeconomic Theory. Specific Topic: Market Design, Mechanism Design.
Abstract
Drawing on two years at Mitt Skolval (a Swedish research-driven social enterprise), this seminar connects school choice literature to practical implementation: the role of information, guaranteeing proximity, explainability, public procurement, and political economy. Abdulkadiroglu & Sö nmez (2003) will be discussed as foundational background.
By Stefania Merone
Broad Topic: Experimental Economics, Microeconomic Theory, Behavioral Economics. Specific Topic: Public Goods, Altruism.
Abstract
To reconcile theoretical free-riding predictions with empirical positive contributions, this paper augments the Voluntary Contribution Mechanism with a warm-glow style non-monetary reward depending on beneficiaries and inequality. Main results: optimal contribution can be positive, increases with MPCR and number of beneficiaries, and responds negatively to relative income of others. Three experiments are proposed to test these mechanisms.
By Drummond Orr
Broad Topic: Development Economics. Specific Topic: Adverse Childhood Experiences.
Abstract
Exploiting cohort and geographic variation from the Eritrean–Ethiopian War, this paper finds men exposed as children are more likely to justify and perpetrate IPV; adolescent exposure (12–18) predicts a large increase in perpetration. Female exposure did not affect tolerance for IPV. Results point to groups at risk and inform early-intervention policy design.
By Brooklyn Han and Eddy Zou
Broad Topic: Development Economics, Environmental Economics. Specific Topic: Environmental Regulations in India.
Abstract
Exploiting India's 2006 EIA reform, this paper uses a difference-in-differences strategy on a panel of manufacturing firms (2002–2018) to estimate impacts of decentralisation. Findings: decentralisation reduced likelihood of installing pollution control, cut investments and employment, and had mixed effects across formal/informal sectors — suggesting decentralisation did not improve pollution control and imposed economic costs.