The Economics of Begging (Job Market Paper)

(with Samreen Malik)

Develops a conceptual framework to study begging as an alternative to formal labor markets. Designs novel experimental methods to elicit incentivized measures of economic preferences and perceptions among beggars and donors in India. Demonstrates the robustness of meritocratic preferences and systematic misperceptions in evaluating merit, even in small-stakes redistribution decisions toward street beggars.
Award: The Econometric Society’s Award for Best Paper in Applied Economics (Sharma, 2022)
Invited Seminars (2024): Harvard University, University of Chicago, Boston University, Brown University, Boston College, Tufts University
Conferences: ASSA-AEA Annual Meeting (2025), North East Universities Development Consortium (2024), Economic Science Association North America Meeting (2024), Theoretical Research in Economic Development (2024), Advances in Field Experiments (2024), Indian Statistical Institute Annual Conference on Economic Growth and Development (2023, 2024), Asian Meeting of the Econometric Society (2022, 2023)
Media: International Growth Center – Ideas for India, December 2024

The Persistence of Disadvantages: Theory and Experiment

(Revise and Resubmit at Games and Economic Behavior)

Combines theory and lab experimental data on repeated contests to show that the possibility of overcoming initial disadvantages paradoxically increases the persistence of inequality, as advantaged competitors exert even greater effort to maintain their lead, reducing the disadvantaged competitor’s chances of success despite higher effort.
Invited Seminars: Monash University (2023), Bilkent University (2021)
Conferences: Behavioral Research in Economics – Economic Science Association Workshop (2022), Delhi School of Economics Winter School (2022), Indian Statistical Institute Annual Conference on Economic Growth and Development (2022), Economic Science Association Global Meetings (2021), Southern Economic Association Meeting (2021), Contests: Theory and Evidence Conference (2020, 2021), Association for the Study of Religion Economics and Culture Conference (2019)

Lawful Progress: Unveiling the Laws That Reshape Women’s Work Decisions

(with Anna Fruttero and Diego Gomes)
IMF Working Paper No. 2023/252

Uses panel data from 170 countries across 50 years to show that gender equality in workplace and civil society related laws matter for female labor force participation decision after gender equality in household related laws is achieved.
Conference: International Economic Association-World Bank Conference 2024

Can’t agree to disagree: Fairness Concerns and Conflict

(with Ernesto Reuben)
Shows that disagreements over fairness in source of income disparities escalate conflict over resource allocation and compensation schemes at the workplace, using theoretical and experimental evidence.

Fairness Perceptions of AI-Produced Output

Examines how AI use affects perceptions of merit and deservingness in academic and workplace settings.

Privilege Loss Aversion

Shows that status quo of advantage shifts perceptions of fairness such that privileged people’s response to the threat of losing advantage dominates the disadvantaged people’s opportunity of overcoming disadvantage even in non-competitive settings.

The Formation of Fairness Beliefs and Preferences for Charity and Redistribution

Investigates how increasing inequality influences meritocratic beliefs and demand for redistribution.

Gender De-biasing

(with Ashwini Deshpande, Kanika Mahajan and Nandhini S)

Studies the effectiveness of gender-debiasing training with hiring managers in improving women’s callback rates and mitigating gender-based discrimination.

Reducing the Gender Confidence Gap through English Education and Sports

(with Nitin Kumar Bharti, Imrul Kayes and Aniruddha Taukdar)

Evaluates field interventions to boost confidence and competitiveness among young girls in India.