I maintain an active research interest in urban poverty and development, determinants and consequences of IMF programs, and political economy of East Africa. I am currently engaged in three major research projects: 'The Determinants of Slums', 'IMF Lending and Socio-Economic Development', and 'Precarity in Aotearoa'.
The Determinants of Slums
What is a slum and how do they vary across space and time? Are slums a transitional function of economic-cum-demographic factors or a permanent feature of the urban landscape? To what extent are city or national slum profiles a product of institutional path dependency? Is there a generalizable theory of slum proliferation, and if so, what is its temporal ordering and layers of causality? This project investigates the determinants of slums using cross-country quantitative analysis, interviews, focus groups, and archival research. It draws upon case studies of the two East African cities of Kigali (Rwanda) and Nairobi (Kenya).
IMF Lending and Socio-Economic Development
What are the social and economic consequences of IMF conditionality? Which social groups are affected the most? How do people respond to these consequences? This research deploys data from an original database of conditionality (available at IMF Monitor) to investigate the effects of IMF lending on state capacity, health policies, foreign aid, and related areas. The research also draws upon qualitative case studies of national experiences across the globe. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Alexander Kentikelenis and Lawrence King, and is funded by the Cambridge Political Economy Society Trust.
Precarity in Aotearoa
What is the composition of precariat households? What are the connections, challenges, and resources of these households? How do they deploy cultural connections and practices to cope with socio-economically restrained lifeworlds? Drawing on mixed methods, this project documents the plight of precarious households and their culturally-patterned responses to socio-economic marginalisation. The project is being conducted in collaboration with Mohi Rua, Darrin Hodgetts, William Cochrane, Ottilie Stolte, Kerry Chamberlain, Rolinda Karapu, Tiniwai Te Whetu, and Guy Standing, and is funded by Nga Pae o te Maramatanga.
The Determinants of Slums
What is a slum and how do they vary across space and time? Are slums a transitional function of economic-cum-demographic factors or a permanent feature of the urban landscape? To what extent are city or national slum profiles a product of institutional path dependency? Is there a generalizable theory of slum proliferation, and if so, what is its temporal ordering and layers of causality? This project investigates the determinants of slums using cross-country quantitative analysis, interviews, focus groups, and archival research. It draws upon case studies of the two East African cities of Kigali (Rwanda) and Nairobi (Kenya).
IMF Lending and Socio-Economic Development
What are the social and economic consequences of IMF conditionality? Which social groups are affected the most? How do people respond to these consequences? This research deploys data from an original database of conditionality (available at IMF Monitor) to investigate the effects of IMF lending on state capacity, health policies, foreign aid, and related areas. The research also draws upon qualitative case studies of national experiences across the globe. This project is being conducted in collaboration with Alexander Kentikelenis and Lawrence King, and is funded by the Cambridge Political Economy Society Trust.
Precarity in Aotearoa
What is the composition of precariat households? What are the connections, challenges, and resources of these households? How do they deploy cultural connections and practices to cope with socio-economically restrained lifeworlds? Drawing on mixed methods, this project documents the plight of precarious households and their culturally-patterned responses to socio-economic marginalisation. The project is being conducted in collaboration with Mohi Rua, Darrin Hodgetts, William Cochrane, Ottilie Stolte, Kerry Chamberlain, Rolinda Karapu, Tiniwai Te Whetu, and Guy Standing, and is funded by Nga Pae o te Maramatanga.
