Category: Economics

The purpose of our research project would be to categorically and spatially analyze the consumption patterns of US families in a way that can account for heterogeneity. Currently, there are a number of policy conclusions that are made based on observations of aggregate consumption. However, when looking at aggregate data, a significant amount of variation across the different categories of consumption is masked. Our project would serve to reveal this heterogeneity, such that one can see how consumption patterns vary by family characteristics, economic cycles, consumption shocks, and more. Essentially, our project consists of microeconomic data analysis, with the ultimate goal of making the basis of macroeconomic policies more robust and holistic.

According to statistical research, Indian industries have had a large number of internal migrant workers having a sizeable impact on the economics of India. Rural to urban migrant workers mostly engage in unskilled work, characterized by low wages, job insecurity and economic vulnerability, which are peculiar characteristics of informal work environments. The Covid-19 pandemic has severely impacted the internal migrant workers in India, displacing and leaving them stranded. With factories and workplaces shutting down due to the 68 day lockdown imposed by the Indian government, the migrant worker community dealt with great uncertainty about job security, loss of income, displacement of homes and health. While this impact was greatly monitored by the Indian government and local media outlets, poor policy implications left the workers under great distress. Many were left with no of access to any form of transportation enabling them to return back to their homes, forcing them to cover the distance on foot. Most available research surrounding the migrant workers focuses on the impact of migration from villages to cities and other socio-political and economic implications of the move on their families and lives. However, there is little study of the impact of this pandemic on their lives and into exploring and comparing differences within the migrant worker community.