Shivani Gupta

Fields of Interest

Labor Economics, Gender, International Development, Well-Being Economics, Public Policy, Health & Nutrition

Job Search Objective

Academia, Private Industry, International Organizations, Data Analytics 

About Me

I am a fifth-year PhD candidate in Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia, with research focused on the intersection of labor markets, gender, household decision-making, and mental well-being within development economics. 

My dissertation employs rigorous causal inference techniques, using both primary and secondary datasets, to evaluate how behavioural and policy interventions, as well as existing labor market conditions, affect economic and health outcomes. My job market papers include: (i) a randomized controlled trial (RCT) in rural Ethiopia—under R&R at the Journal of Development Economics—that evaluates a phone-based behavioral intervention and shows that increasing men’s participation in unpaid domestic and care work redistributes the burden and improves mental health for both mothers and fathers; and (ii) a study using Dutch panel data and a control-function approach to estimate the causal impact of part-time work on mothers’ mental well-being, with implications for policies promoting flexible work arrangements.

With over nine years of experience at institutions including the World Bank and the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), I have designed, implemented, and evaluated large-scale policy programs in agriculture, social protection, gender, and community development. I have extensive experience managing all stages of quantitative research—from study design and data collection to econometric analysis and dissemination—and have led field teams of more than 45 members while working closely with government stakeholders, NGOs, and international research partners. I am proficient in Stata, R, and Python, with advanced training in causal inference methods including randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental designs, and panel data approaches.

My academic training and applied experience together reflect a strong and sustained commitment to data-driven, evidence-based approaches grounded in rigorous empirical methods and policy-relevant research.