Abstract This dissertation explores the unintended consequences of government policies in developing countries, which may arise from impacts on objectives beyond policy scope or political capture. Read the dissertation

Three TCI scholars received their degrees during commencement ceremonies at Cornell University on Saturday, May 27. Natasha Jha and Anna David Thottappilly each received PhDs in applied economics and management from the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management. Tanuj…

Abstract We study the relationship between alcohol consumption and crime, following an alcohol prohibition in Bihar in 2016. Using a difference-in-differences approach, we explore the differential effects of alcohol on different crime types. We find that the prohibition led to a 0.22 standard deviation point...

Banning alcohol may be an effective tool for curbing violent crimes, according to a forthcoming study coauthored by a group of researchers including Tata-Cornell Institute (TCI) Scholar Natasha Jha. The study, which is due to be published in the July…

A growing public health concern across Southeast Asia is groundwater contamination, specifically from heavy metals such as arsenic. Given the significant adverse health impacts, it is important from a policy perspective to determine the causes of such contamination. I am…

Good, healthy soils are not only critical for crop production, they are also crucial for good nutrition. Soils high in mineral content produce crops with higher levels of those nutrients. Yet in developing countries like India, which struggles to provide…

Natasha Jha earned her PhD in applied economics and management in 2023. As a TCI scholar, her work examined price distortions and environmental externalities associated with agricultural policies and practices. Natasha holds an MA in economics from the Delhi School…