I specialize in the intersection of development economics, political economy, and labor, with a focus on shaping policies that drive positive change. My research informs policy in three key areas:

1. Forced Migration and Development: Examining the effects of forced migration and the role of policies that support the development of migrants and their host communities.

2. Crime, Violence, and Conflict: Investigating the consequences of crime and conflict in developing countries, with a focus on strategies to mitigate these impacts.

3. Firms in developing countries: Assessing how firms are affected by common shocks in the developing world including crime and migration.

My ongoing research spans across Latin America, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Africa, with projects that include randomized control trials (RCTs) in Jordan, Ethiopia, and Colombia. I also have active work in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mexico, Tajikistan, and Venezuela.

As a co-founder of several key research initiatives, I lead efforts to collect critical data on forced migration:

• VenRePs Study: A longitudinal study of Venezuelan forced migrants in Colombia.

• VenRePs-Kids: A study focusing on Venezuelan and Colombian children.

• Syrian Refugee Life Study (SRLS): A longitudinal survey of Syrian refugees in Jordan (see policy brief [here]).

I was also part of the core team for the World Development Report 2023 on Migrants, Refugees, and Societies.