RESEARCH

Human Trafficking Vulnerability

I am the Co-Scientific Director of the Human Trafficking Research Initiative at Innovations for Poverty Action, and the Co-Lead of the Human Trafficking Vulnerability (HTV) Project, a research project based at the University of California, Berkeley and York University (Canada). The lab employs experimental methods to study the impact of interventions designed to reduce vulnerability to human trafficking. Thus far, data has been collected in Hong Kong, Liberia, Nepal, Sierra Leone, and the United States.

With funding from Humanity United, USAID, US Department of Labor, Stanford University, Terres des Hommes, and Vanderbilt University, the HTV Project has tested the efficacy of interventions on the knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of populations that are either vulnerable to trafficking and labor exploitation or responsible for mitigating it. This includes the general public, law enforcement agents, employers, and migrant domestic workers.

The Impact of National Service on Beliefs, Mindsets, and Life Pathways

The health and strength of a democratic polity rests upon the public possessing a sufficient level of trust in government, political efficacy, civic engagement, and tolerance. Without citizens who display civic virtues, a democracy cannot fulfill its promise of liberal justice. A democracy requires citizens that are tolerant and actively participate in public deliberation rather than citizens that are apathetic, alienated from the political process, and withdrawal into the private sphere of family, career and personal projects. Given that youth represent the future health of civic life, they have been the objects of many efforts to inculcate the values and practices upon which democratic citizenship depends. However, it is not clear if youth service programs like the U.S. Peace Corps, Tilting Futures, and Teach For America are mechanisms by which engaged, efficacious, and knowledgeable citizens can be groomed.

This research agenda, in partnership with the Ministry of Education in Ethiopia, the Peace Corps, Tilting Futures, and Teach For All network, asks if participating in civilian youth service programs focused on low-income communities can cultivate the virtues and practices of democratic citizens. This work also explores the effect of military service on youth. For example, are youth service participants more likely to take part in civic actions? Do these young professionals demonstrate greater political efficacy after having served? Does participation foster greater trust or skepticism in their political system? Does close intergroup with marginalized communities contact increase or decrease tolerance? Does participation lead to pro-social career trajectories?

Prejudice, Hostilities, and Discrimination

My research on prejudice, hostilities, and discrimination spans three interconnected areas. First, I work to detect and measure discrimination against marginalized groups. For example, I am using large-scale field experiments and novel survey measures to document micro-inequities against Asian Americans, the bamboo ceiling, and sexism in how voters evaluate candidates for office. Second, I develop and evaluate interventions to reduce prejudice and intergroup hostilities. For example, I am studying how museum experiences, mass media campaigns, intergroup contact, and male allyship trainings can shift biased attitudes and behaviors across contexts ranging from anti-Asian bias in the United States to sexual violence and human trafficking vulnerability in Nepal and Liberia. Third, I work to amplify the voices of those who are marginalized, particularly women in the Global South, examining how group-based empowerment trainings, political participation programs, and institutional reforms can enable women and other underrepresented groups to engage more fully in civic and political life, with coordinated field experiments in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond

Working Papers

[4] “Cultural Assimilation Weakens Workers’ Discriminatory Preferences Against Potential Asian Bosses” (with Charles Crabtree and John B Holbein)

[3] “Human Trafficking Vulnerability: An Experimental Intervention Using Mass Media to Change Norms and Behaviors in Nepal” (with Margaret Boittin)

[2] “What Appeals Are Effective at Recruiting Targeted Samples for Survey Research?” (with Allison Archer)

[1] “Uncovering Hidden Population: A Network-Based Approach to Estimate Child Trafficking Prevalence” (with Guy Grossman, Dennis Feehan, Elizabeth Herman, Maya Lu)

Works in Progress

[11] “Forever Foreign? Differential Linguistic Assimilation Standards for Asian Immigrants” (with Charles Crabtree, John B. Holbein, and Surili Sheth)

[10] “Reducing Sexual Violence and Human Trafficking Risks in Liberia” (with Guy Grossman, Alexandra Hartman, and Carolina Torreblanca)

[9] “National Identity through Intergroup Contact” (with Solomon Zena Walelign, Ruth Ditlmann, Habtamu Edjigu, Tefera Berihun Taw, Lingerh Sewnet Akalu, Tenaw Gedefaw Abate, Yohanes Ewnetie Ayele, Dereje Fentie Abegaz, Alemnew Mekonnen Wolde, Getachw Melesse Assefa, Anita Alur)

[8] “Information Constraints and Rising Gender Inequality: Evidence from South Korea” (with Jihan Kim and Soosun You)

[7] “From Political Empowerment to Economic Engagement: Evidence from a Randomized Training Program in Nigeria” (with Katrina Kosec, and Jordan Kyle)

[6] “Overcoming Barriers to Women’s Political Participation through Male Allyship Trainings” (with Claire Adida, Leonardo Arriola, Rachel Fisher, Katrina Kosec, and Jordan Kyle)

[5] “The Impact of Youth Service on Beliefs, Mindsets, and Life Pathways: Evidence from Teach For All” (with Katharine Conn)

[4] “Law Enforcement and Human Trafficking Vulnerability: The Case of Nepal” (with Margaret Boittin)

[3] “The Impact of a Service-Focused Teaching Corps on Participants’ Career Pathways and Aspirations: Evidence from Teach For All” (with Katharine Conn and Evelyn Kim)

[2] “Engendering Empathy Through Virtual Reality” (with Dan Archer)

[1] “Differential Evaluations for Imperfections: Negative Campaigns and Underrepresentation in Politics” (with Anna Mikkelborg and Soo Sun You)