About Me
I am a PhD candidate in Economics at Rice University in Houston, Texas. Witnessing stark disparities across vibrant African cultures ignited a deep curiosity about why some societies flourish while others falter. This question drives my research in development economics, which centers on poverty, culture, religion, and social norms, with a primary focus on the African continent.
My work examines both individual pathways out of poverty and the roots of inter-group inequality. It underscores the pitfalls of one-size-fits-all policies in culturally and ethnically diverse settings and explores whether local religious leaders can shift deeply rooted social norms.
I am also involved in several collaborative projects. One investigates global poverty dynamics through gender and age disparities over the past 25 years. Another examines the distinct challenges facing Ethiopian refugee communities. A third project involves constructing new regional datasets for 26 African countries to analyze the complex interplay among poverty, conflict, ethnicity, and religion.
My research leverages a broad spectrum of high-quality data sources, including the World Bank's Living Standards Measurement Study (LSMS), the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), the Afrobarometer, the Ethnographic Atlas, household surveys, and national archives. Through this work, I aim to deliver nuanced, data-driven insights into how beliefs and traditions shape economic outcomes and to help policymakers design interventions that are tailored to the specific cultural contexts of the communities they serve.
If you would like to know more or are interested in discussing my research, I would be happy to connect.
