Essays on Preference Formation, Norms Transmission, and Healthcare in Development Economics

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the determinants of preference formation, norms transmission, and healthcare utilization. Chapter 1, joint with Mariel Bedoya, studies whether temporary work assignments to poor areas affect worker preferences, beliefs, and career choices. We provide evidence on this question using random variation in the assignment of psychologists within a one-year mandatory rural service program in Peru. Psychologists that completed the program in poorer places are later 15% more likely to work for the public sector and 86% more likely to work in the poorest districts in the country. We provide survey evidence that points to increased prosociality as an important mechanism. Chapter 2, joint with Arielle Bernhardt, studies adherence to caste norms. This paper shows that caste norms are weakened when Hindus live alongside Adivasis, an indigenous minority outside of the caste system. Using a number of estimation strategies, we show that having more Adivasi neighbors decreases Hindus’ adherence to a wide range of caste rules. Hindu women in Adivasi-majority villages are 50% more likely to work and villages are more likely to be integrated. We argue that Hindus adhere to caste norms as an investment in status within the caste system, and that this investment is less valuable when Adivasis form a larger share of the village population. Chapter 3 studies supply-side constraints to healthcare utilization. This paper exploits variation in the timing and location of new public primary healthcare facilities in Peru to analyze the effects of increased access to primary healthcare on birth outcomes. I find that an additional healthcare facility in a rural area reduces the incidence of low birth weight by 1.3 percentage points after an initial adjustment period. This effect seems to be driven by higher quality prenatal care and changes in fertility behavior. Overall, these results suggest that increasing access to primary healthcare can have large health benefits.