Research

Journal Publications

1. "Correcting Perceived Social Distancing Norms to Combat COVID-19." with James Allen, Arlete Mahumane, James Riddell, Tanya Rosenblat, and Dean Yang. Economic Development and Cultural Change, forthcoming. [PDF] [AEA Registry][Replication Package]

2. "Social Stigma as a Barrier to HIV Testing: Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Mozambique." Journal of Development Economics, 161 (2023): 103035. [PDF] [AEA Registry]

3. “Knowledge, Stigma, and HIV Testing: An Analysis of a Widespread HIV/AIDS Program,” with Dean Yang, Arlete Mahumane, James Riddell, and James Allen. Journal of Development Economics, 160 (2023):102958. [PDF][Replication Package]

A previous version under the title “Direct and Spillover Impacts of a Community-Level HIV/AIDS Program: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial in Mozambique” is accepted at JDE based on pre-results review. [PDF] [ClinicalTrials.gov Registry] [AEA Registry] 

VoxDev article "Community health programmes and HIV/AIDS outcomes in Mozambique"

4. “Teaching and Incentives: Substitutes or Complements?”, with James Allen, Arlete Mahumane, James Riddell, Tanya Rosenblat, and Dean Yang. Economics of Education Review, 91, (2022):102317. [PDF][AEA Registry][Replication Package]

Working Papers

1. "The Value of Political Connections for Firms: The Case of Outside Directors in China."[PDF]

Work in Progress

1. “Interventions to Improve Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence in Beira, Mozambique,” with Dean Yang, James Riddell, Arlete Mahumane, and Jared Stolove. [ClinicalTrials.gov Registry] [AEA Registry]

Study instruments: Videos for the informational intervention in Portuguese and Sena, with English transcripts; Protocol for the stigma-relieving intervention

• Abstract: Many people living with HIV in Sub Sahara Africa failed to adhere to free Anti-retroviral Therapy (ART), the medical treatment for HIV that can stop the virus from progressing and transmitting. This paper seeks to identify the barriers to treatment adherence. We recruit patients that are new on ART from a large health center in Mozambique and randomly provide interventions to assist them in overcoming the limited attention problem, information imperfection, or social stigma concerns. We track the medication possession ratio (MPR) in six months to evaluate the interventions and benchmark their effects against conditional cash transfers. Moreover, to shed light on the spillovers of the interventions, we offer coupons for the participants to refer their partners to get tested. The experiment result will inform us of behavioral patterns of the population that are economically and physically vulnerable. Effective interventions are ready to be scaled up in HIV-treatment facilities in resource-constrained environments.

2. “Inspiring Intrinsic Motivation in Future Doctors: Evidence from a Large-Scale Online Experiment in China,” with Chunqing Li, Xuanxuan Ma, Hongbin Wu, Xiaoyang Ye.

• Abstract: The projected surge in global demand for health workers contrasts with a growing shortage, exacerbated by high attrition among medical students, especially in China. Medical students' willingness to practice medicine not only determines the attrition rate but also shapes their professionalism, which in turn affects patients' safety and health. According to the China Medical Student Survey, about 15\% of medical graduates hesitate to pursue medicine.  We conducted a randomized information experiment within an online survey, finding that relevant information effectively encourages students to stay in the medical profession. These messages reduced dropout intentions by 1.1-3.0 percentage points, or 5\%-13\% compared to the control group. Messages emphasizing the profession's importance, doctor-patient relationships, and role models had the greatest impact. This impact varied based on medical students' initial motivations, suggesting a potential for strengthening professional identity among those with weaker ones. We conclude that tailored messages are crucial for reducing dropout intentions among medical students.

3. “The Economic and Social Impact of Development and Cooperation Projects in Africa”