A. Nilesh Fernando

Regulation by Reputation? Intermediaries, Labor Abuses, and International Migration Abstract. Migrant workers and employers rely on intermediaries to facilitate labor market placements. If information frictions obscure their reputation, however, intermediaries may under-invest in placement quality. Using data on over 1.5 million Sri Lankan migrants to the Gulf region, we examine the effects of a government-run intermediary rating program that publicly revealed ratings two years after it was announced. Prior to the ratings' public release, under-performing intermediaries invest in the rating criteria and place migrants in less abusive and more remunerative employment. Our results suggest the government's threat of quality revelation induced intermediaries to prospectively screen employers and improve placement quality.

The threat of public ratings prompted intermediaries to improve job quality for migrant workers. Just Accepted new paper by A. Nilesh Fernando @nileshfern.bsky.social Niharika Singh zurl.co/yQIG8

More seriously, looking forward to not having to clarify what football actually is and reducing my dependence on the frozen foods section at Trader Joe's. I'll be visiting @devinnovationlab.bsky.social ‬ before moving to London, so do get in touch if you're in the area! (3/3)

Former colleagues once described @ndecon.bsky.social
as a 'postdoc on steroids.' It's not hard to see why: between terrific development colleagues (Joe Kaboski, @taryndinkelman.bsky.social, and Lakshmi Iyer; who'd be a boon to any devo group) and resources it's a solid stepping stone (2/n)

Some news: I'll be joining @kingsbschool.bsky.social later this year as an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics. Excited to join the exciting development community across @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social! (1/n)

Such a travesty that the Demographic and Health Survey program was terminated this week.

I realize the Gates Foundation can't pick up all the pieces, but this one seems like a natural one for them to pick up given that the DHS is the go-to data source for many of their focus areas.

Out in the December edition of AER: Insights, "Hiring Frictions and the Promise of Online Job Portals: Evidence from India," by our own Nilesh Fernando @nileshfern.bsky.social and Niha Singh (along with Gabe Tourek): www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...

We are seeking a full-time pre-doc RA to work on development economics with faculty like Taryn Dinkelman, Lakshmi Iyer, Santosh Kumar, Joe Kaboski, @nileshfern.bsky.social, and Niha Singh. We can sponsor US work authorization. jobs.nd.edu/postings/32745 #RA #Econsky