About Me
I am a 5th-year PhD Candidate in Economics at the University of Innsbruck, currently visiting the University of Chicago. Using field experiments, I investigate how economic incentives and behavioral biases influence decisions in markets that impact sustainability and social welfare.
My dissertation, Repair and Reuse Economics, focuses on two areas: reducing fraudulent behavior among repair service providers and understanding consumer reluctance toward purchasing second-hand goods. I design and implement field interventions to address market failures and behavioral barriers in both sectors.
My broader research agenda includes work on prosocial behavior, exploring the determinants of donations and volunteering, and gender economics, examining how gender shapes economic opportunities and choices.
Job Market 2025/26
I am on the job market for the 2025/26 academic year, with an expected graduation date of Summer 2026. I am available for interviews.
JMP: Environmental costs in second-hand clothing purchase: A voucher choice experiment
Abstract
Although consumers may wish to act in environmentally responsible ways, informational barriers often prevent them from accurately understanding the true environmental costs of their consumption choices. In this paper, we investigate how environmental costs, such as CO2 emissions, electric energy consumption, and water usage, affect the intention to purchase secondhand clothing. Using multiple price lists, we measure stated changes in purchasing intention and incentivized choices, as well as willingness to accept (WTA) and willingness to pay (WTP) for vouchers at first-hand versus second-hand clothing stores. We draw on a large, nationally representative sample of Italians (N = 10,496). First, we find that providing information is effective in promoting secondhand adoption across all types of environmental costs; water-based information generates the strongest effect. Second, we find that pro-environmental behavior amplifies responsiveness to information. However, the need for uniqueness acts as a significant barrier; these individuals require approximately €2 more compensation to switch to secondhand options. Third, local environmental conditions, including water scarcity, energy poverty, and air quality, do not systematically moderate treatment effects. We also found that store proximity influences baseline preferences, but does not moderate the effects of information provision. Our findings indicate that consumers respond to various environmental indicators, demonstrating a particular sensitivity to water usage compared to CO2 emissions. However, significant portions of the public remain disengaged from sustainability information.