Lead exposure costs the world trillions of dollars each year and causes more than one million deaths. I study whether distributing safer products to pregnant women and infants can be a cost-effective way to reduce exposure during the most vulnerable stages of life.
Diarrhea remains one of the leading causes of death among young children, even though ORS and zinc are inexpensive and effective treatments. We tested whether community health workers in Uganda could increase use by making treatment free, convenient, and available before a child falls ill.
Community health workers are often the first line of care, but they rarely have consistent decision support. CHW Navigator explores whether AI-assisted tools can help them give clearer advice, follow up better, and improve care for families.
These projects focus on practical changes in behavior, regulation, and technology that can reduce illness and injury.
Handwashing with soap is one of the most effective ways to reduce diarrheal disease and respiratory infections, two of the largest causes of child illness and death. We tested a school-based intervention in southern India and found that combining low-cost soapy bottles with routines dramatically increased handwashing.
OSHA and other regulators inspect only a small fraction of the workplaces they oversee. Our work shows that better targeting, including machine learning, can help inspections prevent far more injuries without increasing the inspection budget.
Smoke from biomass cooking causes a large burden of illness, especially for women and children. Our work tests how behavior change, logistics, and product design can help households move from smoky chulhas to cleaner fuels and sustain near-exclusive LPG use.
Recent papers, policy essays, and public writing.
With J. Lucas Reddinger and Gary Charness. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization.
Working paper on how AI tools may support frontline health delivery.
With Matthew Johnson and Michael Toffel. American Economic Journal: Applied Economics.
With Matthew S. Johnson and Michael W. Toffel. The Regulatory Review, February 26, 2024.
With David Nguyen and Jose Ramon Enriquez. Stanford Digital Economy Lab.
San Francisco Chronicle, January 8, 2026.
Courses, health curricula, and other materials developed for students, teachers, and families.
Courses in macroeconomics, industrial relations, business strategies for emerging markets, development-oriented innovation, films about work, and research methods.
Hygiene Heroes and related public-health materials for schools, teachers, and families.