The HIV/AIDS epidemic is a great health and development challenge. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 36.7 million people were living with the HIV virus in 2015. Around 70 percent of those lived in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is well known that number of sexual partners matters for the transmission of HIV. To the extent that marriage reduces the number of partners that a person has it may play an important role in mitigating the transmission of HIV. Despite its significance, the literature has not provided models in which marriage provides a haven for safer sex. This paper investigates, using a calibrated choice-theoretic general equilibrium model, how policies aimed at increasing marriage rates affect HIV prevalence rates. The analysis highlights the role that marriage as an institution plays in the transmission of HIV. It also illustrates that policies aimed at marriage may have important effects.
The Role of Marriage in Fighting HIV: A Quantitative Illustration for Malawi
American Economic Review P&P, 2017, 107(5): 158–162
With J. Greenwood, C. Santos & M. Tertilt.
In a quantitative equilibrium model of sexual behavior and HIV/AIDS transmission we study policies that encourage long-term partnerships.
Explore More
Publications
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2008/123(2), pp. 621-661. With A. Postlewaite. [technical appendix] In a model of social learning, the better informed (wealthier) consumers get preferential service because their consumption signals high quality to others. Go to paper
Econometrica, 2015, Vol 83 (5), 1849-1875. With K. Kim. [online appendix] We introduce cheap-talk into a market game and study if the equilibrium can replicate the constraint efficient allocation under (reserve) price posting. Go to paper
Publications
Review of Economic Studies, 2011, Vol. 78 (3), 872-906. With Jan Eeckhout. Wage and employment data can identify the strength of sorting in search models, though two-sided fixed effects are always mis-specified. Go to paper
American Economic Journal - Macroeconomics, 2022, 14(4), 1-97, with Michèle Belot and Paul Muller. In a field experiment, we study how job seekers respond to posted wages by randomly assigning wages randomly to pairs of otherwise similar vacancies in a large number of professions, which generates significantly more but not exclusive interest at higher wages. Go to paper
Publications
Journal of Monetary Economics, 2008, Vol. 55, pp. 1054-1066. With M. Galenianos. We characterize price dispersion and welfare in a monetary model with private information: inflation is regressive even though the rich hold more money. Go to paper
Publications
Journal of Economic Literature, 2021 59(1): 90-148. With R. Wright,B. Julien, and V. Guerrieri. This survey presents a comprehensive overview of the directed/competitive search literature. Go to paper
Review of Economic Studies, 2019 86(4): 1411-1447. With Michèle Belot and Paul Muller. We develop and evaluate experimentally a novel tool that redesigns the job search process by providing tailored online advice about related occupations. Go to paper
Publications
Inferring Risk Perceptions and Preferences using Choice from Insurance Menus: Theory and Evidence
Economic Journal, 2021 131: 713-744. With Ericson, Spinnewijn &, Starc Demand for insurance can be driven by high risk aversion or high risk, and we show how to separate the two using observed market shares. Go to paper