Working papers

Clearing the Air, Unequally: Disparities in the Long-term Air Quality Impacts of COVID-19 Lockdowns in the U.S., with Neha Khanna

In 2020, the U.S. experienced unintended, temporary air quality improvements due to COVID-19 lockdowns. Two years since, do we see lasting effects, especially for non-white neighborhoods? We answer this question using a two-stage difference-in-differences design, which accounts for the staggered implementation of lockdowns. We find that by 2022, most improvements in air quality have reverted, as expected. What's unexpected is that there were places where air quality improvements persisted long after the lockdowns -- rural and low-traffic density areas. However, this long-term effect was not the same for everyone. We find evidence of significant increases in PM$_{2.5}$ for non-white census tracts near industrial pollution sources. To advance environmental justice initiatives effectively, we must follow through with policies that have unintended environmental consequences and understand their long-term effects. This enables us to create targeted interventions that address the specific challenges faced by these communities.

Beneath the Smoke: The Impact of Rising Temperatures on “Hidden” Landfill Fires in California

As global temperatures rise, the frequency of landfill fires is expected to increase, yet their effects remain understudied. This research focuses on subsurface landfill fires, which smolder for long periods and cause land subsidence. Using EPA and satellite data, I find that consecutive high temperatures, starting from as early as one week and continuing up to four weeks, significantly increase the likelihood of subsurface fires. These results suggest that monitoring extended periods of heat can serve as an early warning system, prompting timely interventions to protect vulnerable communities. 

Experimental testing of the Nash Bargaining Solution’s Properties in Externality Provision Problems with Ailin Leng, Ozlem Tonguc, Ce Wang, and Zili Yang

This study examines the effectiveness of Nash bargaining solutions in addressing externalities in environmental economics through a lab experiment. Participants formed coalitions and shared costs to mitigate pollution, using a 5×5 Latin square to assign skills across five projects. The findings show that initial success leads to stable rankings and continued success, supporting Yang's (2021) theoretical propositions on the Lindahl equilibrium's stability and efficiency. The results highlight the importance of stable smaller coalitions, which can grow into larger, stable coalitions, providing empirical evidence for cooperative strategies in environmental agreements and contributing to the literature on the Lindahl equilibrium's application.

Does making education more accessible also benefit girls in dowry systems? Evidence from Pakistan

In some regions of South Asia, girls may face educational disadvantages due to traditional norms surrounding dowries. These dowries can be large payments made by the bride's family to the groom's family, and may make investing in girls' education less attractive. However, I find that providing free primary education corresponded to different outcomes across ethnic groups with varying marriage norms. Girls from dowry systems had a lower likelihood of finishing primary schooling, while girls from bride price systems averaged more years of schooling and had a higher likelihood of completing primary schooling. This highlights the importance of considering cultural differences in policy interventions to promote educational attainment for all girls.

Works in progress

Lost Opportunities: How Large-Scale Land Acquisitions Affect Children’s Potentials in Cambodia, with Louisa Poco (Duke-NUS)

Large-scale land acquisitions (LSLAs) in developing countries, notably Cambodia, aimed to boost agro-industrial growth and employment. However, they often result in adverse effects like displacement and reduced incomes. This study investigates the impact of LSLAs, particularly in rubber plantations, on the education of workers' children in Cambodia. Using a difference-in-differences approach with data from Cambodia's Demographic Health Surveys and Socioeconomic Surveys, our research informs policymakers about LSLAs' educational consequences, aiding future agricultural investment decisions and highlighting the tradeoffs in enhancing human capital.

From Belief to Action: How Worldviews Shape Climate Responsibility in Binghamton with Pamela Mischen and Andreas Pape

A Qualitative Study of Climate Change Perceptions and Emotions in the Broome-Tioga Community with David Mixter, Rory Eckhardt, George Homsy, Barrett Brenton, and Abigail Pepples

Policy Briefs

COVID-19 Is No Excuse to Regress on Gender Equality. Park, Cyn-Young and Inocencio, Ancilla. (2020). ADB Briefs, No. 157. Manila: Asian Development Bank.

COVID-19, Technology, and polarizing jobs. Park, Cyn-Young and Inocencio, Ancilla. (2020).  ADB Briefs, No. 147. Manila: Asian Development Bank.

Book Chapter

Park, Cyn-Young and Inocencio, Ancilla (2020). COVID-19, Technology, and polarizing jobs. In Susantono, B., Sawada, Y., & Park, C. Y. (Eds.). Navigating COVID-19 in Asia and the Pacific (pp.21 - 31). Manila: Asian Development Bank.