Research

Working Papers

Early Experiments in Soft Power: State-Building in Haiti, 1915-34

with Christian Fignole

We use intelligence reports from the U.S. occupation of Haiti from 1915 to 1934 to show that American officials believed their state-building initiatives were persuading the Haitian elite to support the occupation.

Incomplete Property Rights and Farm Size: Evidence from Haiti

with Parker Sonnenberg

We demonstrate a connection between Haiti's tradition of jointly owned properties and misallocation in agricultural plots, explaining a key feature of Haiti's underdevelopment.

Migration in the Early 20th Century Caribbean: Evidence from Dominican Residency Permits

with Brian Marein

We look at migration patterns to the Dominican Republic using new data on over 400,000 work permits.

White Papers

Real-Time Signals on Haiti's Economy: The Nouvo Biznis Indicator (NBI)

The Nouvo Biznis Indicator (NBI) is a real-time proxy for economic growth in Haiti.

Publications

Narrow Paths Out of Poverty and Educational Demand: Evidence from Dominican Baseball

with Brian Marein

While many believe that professional baseball recruiting in the Dominican Republic has hurt education, we find no evidence that it decreased educational attainment.

Forthcoming, Economic Development and Cultural Change.

VancUber: The Effect of Ride-Hailing on Public Transportation, Congestion, and Traffic Fatalities

with John Cairncross and Jonathan Hall

Vancouver banned Uber for 10 years, which lets us observe the long-run effects of Uber on public transit, congestion, and traffic fatalities.

Accepted, Canadian Journal of Economics.

The Inefficacy of Land Titling Programs: Homesteading in Haiti, 1933-1950

with Seth Porter

A titling program in Haiti failed to generate much interest because onerous requirements prevented people from applying.

Public Choice. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11127-024-01195-9

"A Whirligig of Revolutionary Presidents": State Capacity, Political Stability, and Business in Haiti, 1905-1927

The American occupation of Haiti immediately ended instability and increased state capacity. In response, more foreigners operated businesses in Haiti.

European Review of Economic History, Volume 28, Issue 3, August 2024, Pages 375–398.

The Forces of Path Dependence: Haiti's Refugee Camps, 1937-2009

Even though they were free to migrate, refugees in Haitian camps chose to stay because of access to public land and social networks.

Explorations in Economic History, 89, 2023.

State Capacity, Property Rights, and External Revenues: Haiti, 1932-1949

In response to WWII, Haiti increased its fiscal capacity, which allowed it to increase its legal capacity.

Journal of Economic History, 83(3): 709-746, 2023.

The Medium-Run Effects of a Foreign Election Intervention: Haiti's Presidential Elections, 2010-2015

The international community intervened in Haiti's election after the earthquake, and this intervention probably discouraged voters from participating in 2015.

Contemporary Economic Policy 40(2): 369-390, 2022.

Small Farms, Large Transaction Costs: Haiti's Missing Sugar

Many Caribbean countries started producing sugar in the early 1900s, but Haiti, the once world-leading sugar producer, did not because of its property rights institutions.

Journal of Economic History, 81(2): 513-548, 2021.