Discussion paper
Sandip Sukhtankar is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Virginia and an affiliate of the Bureau for Research and Economic Analysis of Development (BREAD) and the Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). He received his PhD from Harvard University in 2009, and a BA from Swarthmore College (with Highest Honors) in 2000. He previously worked at Dartmouth College, the Brookings Institution and the Center for Global Development.
Prof Sukhtankar’s research interests are in development economics, political economy, and public economics, with a particular focus on corruption, governance, and the delivery of public benefits and services. Past papers have examined the political economy of sugarcane cooperatives, incentives for corruption in India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Schemes, and a randomized evaluation of biometric ID cards in India. Current projects include randomized trials of large-scale government programs leveraging technology and direct transfers of cash in lieu of in-kind benefits in India.
Prof Sukhtankar’s research has been published in top economics journals such as the American Economic Review, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, and the Journal of Public Economics. His paper published in the American Economic Journal: Economic Policy was awarded the Best Paper award by the American Economics Association. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the Omidyar Network, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation