Current Research Projects
Description
1. Freedom and Openness in Scientific Research
This is a joint project with Philippe Aghion, Scott Stern, and Fiona Murray. It analyzes the effects of shifts in the availability of genetically modified mice for follow-on research. Preliminary results indicate that greater availability of these mice leads to follow-on research that is greater in quantity and quality, and which focuses more strongly on basic research rather than application.
2. Pricing Risk in a Microfinance Market
This project is a continuation of my undergraduate thesis, analyzing an adverse-selection market with a single lender facing a population of borrowers whose projects have unobservable return variance. Initial results indicate that in a group lending scheme, efficiency is improved when lending contracts include intra-group transfers, allowing heterogenous-type borrowing groups to form.