The Aggregate Implications of Micro-Level Risks in a Development Context

In this research program, I study how the presence of micro-level risks faced by households in developing countries affect their economic decisions, such as choosing where to live and work (i.e. migration decision), choosing what to do for a living (i.e. occupation decision) and choosing how to generate income given an occupation (i.e. technology adoption decision). Moreover, these household-level decision making aggregates to a stage of development of the country, characterized by the levels of urbanization, industrialization, and technology.  I explore the aggregate implications on development from individual-level optimizations in the presence of risks.  Social insurance policies can be examined in these frameworks.