Our Projects
Explore our work in labor markets, social protection, education, and other research areas. We have supported multiple projects through field surveys and data collection, delivering reliable insights for academic and policy research across India.
Selected Research Projects
A selection of research projects we have supported across leading institutions.
Active Research Studies
Ongoing research projects supported through field surveys and data collection
Stuck in the Queue: Behavioral Frictions in Public Sector Employment
PIs: Chinmaya Kumar, Varun Kapoor, Anand Shrivastava
This study examines how uncertainty affects the decisions of young people preparing for public sector jobs in India. It explores why candidates continue investing time in highly competitive recruitment systems despite delays and low chances of selection. The project includes survey data collected from students in Bihar.
Bihar
Environmental Degradation from Sand Mining in India
PIs: Varun Kapoor, Sushant Banjara, Claire Fan, Katie Zhang
This project studies the environmental and economic impact of sand mining in Bihar. Initial findings suggest increased flooding and reduced agricultural output, while income gains remain uneven. The study is expanding to multiple districts for deeper analysis.
Bihar
Completed Research Projects
Selected studies supported through field data collection and research collaboration
Negotiations in Low-Wage Labor Markets
This study examines how wages are determined in informal labor markets through real-time negotiations. Field data collected across multiple labor markets shows that undercutting occurs less frequently than expected, highlighting the role of job conditions and worker expectations.
Why Do Firms Hire Migrant Workers?
This project explores why firms prefer migrant workers over local workers. Using field-based experiments, the study shows that firms often choose migrants even at similar or higher wages, highlighting differences in work conditions and employer expectations.