Research Support Assistant- Promoting Regular Labour Supply- J-PAL South Asia

The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of 194 affiliated professors at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. J-PAL South Asia, based at the Institute for Financial Management and Research in India, leads J-PAL’s work in the South Asia region. J-PAL South Asia conducts randomized evaluations, builds partnerships for evidence-informed policymaking, and helps partners scale up effective programs. Over more than ten years of existence, J-PAL South Asia has conducted 193 ongoing and completed randomized evaluations.

Organization:  J-PAL South Asia

Location: India

Education: Bachelor’s

Start Date (Earliest): 12 September 2022

Language Requirement: English, Tamil

Length of Commitment: None

Labor turnover and low labor supply is a major impediment to productivity in poor countries. While the research focused on this policy concern has typically studied the role of labor demand, in this study, we explore the role of limited labor supply in this market. We hypothesize that workers–who are used to the irregular, flexible, and intermittent work schedules associated with agriculture and casual work–have difficulty providing regular labor supply in the formal sector because they lack the habit of doing so.

To study labor supply, we focus on casual daily laborers in India who often gather in “labor stands” — public spaces where employers also congregate to find workers. Attendance at the stand provides a clear measure of labor supply. We will test whether temporary financial incentives to attend the stand can generate a habit of more regular labor supply, leading to greater attendance even after incentives are removed. However, persistence in this behavior change could not only be driven by habit formation, but also increased demand for –now more reliable– labor. Additional experimental activities will be conducted to parse whether changes in labor supply are driven by: (i) supply side adjustments (i.e. habit formation), (ii) demand increases responding to the more regular labor supply (e.g. improved matching, development of firm-specific human capital), or (iii) both — creating a virtuous cycle.

This RCT will enroll casual laborers at spot labor markets for construction work to test whether temporary financial incentives can help workers develop the habit of regular labor supply. Treated workers are provided incentives with the goal of boosting their labor supply in urban labor stands — their primary source of regular employment — over a four-month period. The study will take place across labor stands in Chennai. The project is led by Heather Schofield, Supreet Kaur, Yogita Shamdasani and Luisa Cefala.

Responsibilities: 

Responsible for assisting critical parts of on-the-field/day-today management of the project. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Assisting in designing survey questionnaires, conducting qualitative research, running pilot exercise, refining survey instruments.
• Managing and coordinating with teams: Recruit, train, supervise both field-based and data operations teams.
• Supporting the project in setting up and managing field offices with support from the A&F and other verticals.
• Supervise data collection and entry to ensure quality of the data at each stage in accordance to the research protocols
• Maintain day to day relationship with partner organizations at the field levels, where relevant
• Support on all administrative tasks associated with data collection and field management
• Assist in preparing documents and presentations for dissemination and reporting, where requested
• Assist in preparation of materials for IRB applications
• Assist with data cleaning, where requested, with greater oversight from the RM/PIs
• Report to PIs on all of the above-mentioned activities

Qualifications:  Bachelors in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences or related fields.

Skills/ Attributes/Experience:

• 0-1 years (no J-PAL/IFMR experience sought, or internships in similar research/public policy organizations)
• Experience in developing country
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills; fluency in English and Tamil required.
• Self-motivated, independent and manages multiple tasks efficiently within a time frame
• Familiarity with RCTs Ability to thrive in unstructured and fast-paced environments, with limited support.

How to Apply

Complete the application. After completing a brief registration; choose the Research job category, then select “Research Support Assistant- Promoting Regular Labour Supply- J-PAL South Asia”. Applications require you to include two letters of recommendation, statement of purpose (cover letter), CV, and transcripts. Note that you are able to submit your application without the recommendation letters.

Please also send an email to Rakesh Pandey(rakesh.pandey@ifmr.ac.in), , Luisa Cefala (luisa.cefala@berkeley.edu) and Divya Manoj Goel (dgoel@povertyactionlab.org) copying jpalsajobs@povertyactionlab.org with your CV following these instructions exactly.

In the subject line, put your full name, first (given) name followed by last (family) name.

Attachments: Please attach ONLY your CV and cover letter.

In the email body, copy exactly the following position line: JPAL South Asia, Research Associate Promoting Regular Labor Supply.

Please do not include any text besides the position line(s) in the body of the e-mail. Adding extra text will interfere with the processing of your application.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.