How can social-impact organizations improve their effectiveness by shaping the discretionary effort of their frontline workers?
This advanced stage project (with Sarang Deo) tests a novel mission engagement intervention for India’s rural community health workers (CHWs) in Bihar. Moving beyond financial and career incentives, we focus on strengthening CHWs’ psychological connection to their core mission of serving their communities. Using an RCT with in-person workshops and WhatsApp-based reinforcement, we examine whether deepening mission engagement shifts how CHWs allocate their effort. Endline data collection is underway.

(How) Can entrepreneurial social connections be engineered for women in poverty settings?
This project (with Aparajita Agarwal, Valentina Assenova and Jasjit Singh) focuses on women in low-income settings, to examine how organized group activities can foster new connections that help them gain exposure, build confidence, and pursue entrepreneurial ventures. This study uses novel survey data from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in rural India.