Mr. Thomas Krumel, Dept. of Agricultural & Resource Economics, University of Connecticut
Mr. Deepak Saraswat, Dept. of Economics, University of Connecticut
Seminar Title:
Mr. Krumel: “Is the Level of Trust among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness and Their Peers Higher Than With Others in the Community?”
Mr. Saraswat: “Gender Composition of Children and Sanitation Behavior In India”
Abstract:
Is the Level of Trust among Individuals Experiencing Homelessness and Their Peers Higher Than With Others in the Community?
Abstract: Our research sets out to identify the level of trust and altruism that exists in communities of individuals experiencing extreme poverty. We utilized behavioral lab-in-the-field experiments on individuals who are currently living in extreme poverty in Willimantic, Connecticut to attempt to estimate measures of social capital levels in this population. Using participants from both a local soup kitchen and a social service provider, we sampled more than 150 individuals in this exploratory research study. To our knowledge, no previous empirical research has been undertaken attempting to estimate social capital levels in communities of individuals experiencing extreme poverty and the results to such research have important policy implications concerning effective program delivery and also in program implementation to this population. Preliminary results from our parsimonious model will be presented.
Gender Composition of Children and Sanitation Behavior In India
Abstract: Open Defecation has been linked to various public health issues and has gained signiï¬ï¿½cant policy attention. Investing in adoption of better sanitation has also been advocated on the grounds of providing women with privacy and protection from potential harassment. Nonetheless, previous research has shown that due to son-biased preferences, households in India under-invest in outcomes for their female children. Linking the gender composition of children in an Indian household to their sanitation behavior, I ï¬ï¿½nd that in certain cases, households reduce open defecation by in presence of female children. The findings in this paper provide a new ï¬ï¿½rst stage association between gender composition of children and sanitation behavior and also contribute to the economic literature on decision making in households belonging to developing countries.
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
3:00pm - 4:00pm
W.B. Young Building, room 132
View the full Fall 2018 ARE Seminar Schedule
For more information, contact: Tatiana Andreyeva at tatiana.andreyeva@uconn.edu