I am an applied microeconomist specializing in environmental economics. In my research, I use econometric methods to analyze large, high-frequency datasets, including geospatial data, to study individual pollution exposure and behavioral responses to avoid high pollution. I also examine how communities adapt to coastal risks driven by climate change. I am currently on the 2024-25 job market.
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When assessing individual pollution exposure, the focus is often on residential locations. However, pollution levels can differ widely between home and work locations. Individuals who spend considerable time working in different geographic areas may experience exposure levels that differ from those at home. Workplace exposure to air pollution in the U.S., calculated using Longitudinal Employer Household Dynamics Origin-Destination Employment Statistics linked with satellite-derived PM2.5 data, consistently exceeds residential exposure, with the gap between work and home increasing from 0.17 μg/m3 in 2002 to 0.25 μg/m3 in 2019. This difference in exposure reduces the measured Black-White pollution gap by 20 to 42 percent for workers commuting more than 20 miles. Remote workers experience a 0.21 μg/m3 reduction in pollution exposure, as telecommuting allows them to live farther from high-pollution workplaces.
This paper studies people's avoidance behavior in response to wildfire smoke using data from smart thermostat motion sensors. We examine two margins of avoidance behavior: spending more time at home and traveling away from home, and find that exposure to particulate matter pollution from wildfire smoke significantly increases both. Moreover, we find substantial heterogeneity in responses among users who live in localities with different demographics and home values. In particular, those with more favorable socio-economic conditions consistently show a greater propensity to travel away from home when exposed to smoke, indicating an uneven capacity to undertake costly avoidance actions.
I examine disparities in coastal risk exposure, beach nourishment implementation, and its effectiveness in reducing property damage. I find that high-risk coastal areas are disproportionately inhabited by White populations. Using novel data on precise extents of beach nourishments projects in the states of Connecticut, South Carolina and Florida, I find that they are more likely to be implemented in White communities. Employing a spatial regression discontinuity design and using Hurricane Sandy as a natural experiment, I also show that beach nourishment reduces property damage by 10 percentage points.
Principles of Microeconomics, Summer 2023
Graduate Student Teaching Award, 2023-24, (Nominated)
Firm Analysis & Strategy, Fall 2024
International Economics, Spring 2024, Fall 2023, Spring 2023
Microeconomics (Masters), Fall 2022
Principles of Microeconomics, Spring 2022
Environmental Economics, Fall 2021
Intermediate Microeconomics, Spring 2021
Economics and Strategy of Sports, Fall 2020
Econ 001, Summer 2023: "I really appreciate Devika's organization and preparedness, and from the very start the lectures were just at the right pace. Devika was an amazing professor, and she created an excellent learning environment."
Econ 551, Fall 2022: "Devika clearly knows the material and on many occasions managed to demystify concepts better than the professor did during lecture."