Research Interrupted: COVID-19 Fieldwork Disruptions

About the speakers:

Marcel Fafchamps is a senior fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies (FSI), at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, and at the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research. Fafchamps is a professor, by courtesy, in the department of economics at Stanford University. His research interest includes economic development, market institutions and social networks. His current research focuses on entrepreneurship, factor markets, and the efficiency of social networks in Africa and South Asia. Fafchamps also has ongoing research on political economy issues in Africa and Asia.

Saad Gulzar is an assistant professor of political science at Stanford University. His research asks under what conditions can representative government – one that provides equality of voice and influence – improve people’s lives? Focusing on South Asia, he poses two broad sets of questions: In developing countries, does representative government improve redistribution at the cost of policy efficiency? How can societies transition towards more representative government? He works closely with politicians, political parties, bureaucrats, and government agencies in Pakistan, India, and Nepal, and strives to make these collaborations meaningful for research and policy.

Meredith Startz is an assistant professor in the department of economics at Stanford University. Her research is at the intersection of development and trade, and focuses on how contracting problems shape transactions and firms in developing countries.