Research


Published work

Benefits and Unintended Consequences of Gender Segregation in Public Transportation: Evidence from Mexico City’s Subway System, with Emilio Gutierrez and Paula Soto. Economic Development and Cultural Change, 64 (4), pp. 1379-1410. July 2021. 

Abstract | Replication Files | Data | Blog


The Effectiveness of Sin Food Taxes: Evidence from Mexico, with Emilio Gutierrez and Enrique Seira. Journal of Health Economics, 77 (102455). May 2021. 

Abstract | Replication Files | Data | Blog


Fidelity of Implementation of Prospera Digital: Evaluation of a Multi-Site mHealth Intervention Aimed at Improving Maternal Health Outcomes in Mexico, with Pablo Gaitán-Rossi , Selene De la Cerda, Alma C. Pérez, Manett Vargas, and Mireya Vilar-Compte. Current Developments in Nutrition 3 (10): nzz107. October 2019. 


Decomposition of gender differentials in agricultural productivity in Ethiopia, with Eliana Carranza, Markus Goldstein, Talip Kilic and Gbemisola Oseni, Agricultural Economics 46(3): pp. 311-334, May 2015.


Coping with La Crisis, with Georgia Hartman, David Keyes, Lisa Markman, and Max Matus in Mexican Migration and the U.S. Economic Crisis. A Transational Perspective, Wayne Cornelius, David Fitzgerald, Pedro Lewin Fischer, and Leah Muse Orlinoff (eds.), Center for Comparative Immigration Studies, UCSD, San Diego 2009.


Desigualdad de la Educación y de los Ingresos Laborales en México: la Importancia de la Calidad Educativa (with Maria E. Ortega Hesles), La Gaceta de Economía, Autumn 2007, 13(23): 11-50.

Working Papers

El Niño and Mexican Children: Medium-Term Effects of Early-Life Weather Shocks on Cognitive and Health Outcomes, with Marta Vicarelli. Revise & Resubmit at World Development. Latest version: June 2021.

Abstract | Paper | Appendix | Blog


School Committees Versus Centralized Targeting. The Case of High-School Scholarships in Mexico. Latest version: February 2020

Abstract | Paper | Appendix | Blog


Long-Term Effects of PROSPERA on Welfare, with Cristina Barnard and Giacomo de Giorgi. World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 9002. Latest version: September 2019

Abstract | Paper | Appendix | Blog


The power of information and motivation on women’s maternal health: an application with ad-hoc SMS in Mexico’s Prospera program, with Manett Vargas. Latest version: August 2018

Abstract | Paper | Trial registry | Blog


Educational Self-Selection among U.S. Immigrants and Returning Migrants,” IZA Discussion Paper 7222

Abstract | Paper | Appendix | Blog

Work in Progress

Centralized versus local-based targeting: Differences in grantees’ profile and effectiveness of scholarships.


Lying to get public resources. Changes in effectiveness and targeting results of making a process less vulnerable to falsifying information.


Moving from controlled-centralized targeting to self-selection. The case of Progresa’s transition from urban to rural.


The end of the road: Effects of Progresa schooling cash transfers being (expectedly) cut (with Oscar Noriega).


Improving service delivery through motivation on the user end: An application with pregnancy care. (with Manett Vargas)

Trial Registry Link


Supporting healthier pregnancies and early child development one text at a time: Can personalized text messages, increased community participation and incentives to service providers help improve pregnancy and early childhood outcomes? (with Stewart Kettle, Luke Ravenscroft and Manett Vargas).

Trial Registry link


Segregation in Agriculture: How Important is it Explaining Gender Productivity Differences? (with Niklas Buehren and Markus Goldstein)