Dissertation Defense Schedule
Academic Excellence
Sharing original dissertation research is a principle to which the University of Delaware is deeply committed. It is the single most important assignment our graduate students undertake and upon completion is met with great pride.
We invite you to celebrate this milestone by attending their dissertation defense. Please review the upcoming dissertation defense schedule below and join us!
PROGRAM | Economics
Essays on the Impact of Religion, Ethnicity, and Gender
By: Muhammad Afzal Chair: Sabrin Beg
ABSTRACT
This dissertation consists of three independent essays on topics related to ethnic, religious and gender differences and their impact on economic decision making. The first paper titled “Internal Migration and Right-Wing Vote Share” studies the within country movement of people from different communities and their impact on natives’ voting behavior. Using data from Indian elections to the State Legislative Assemblies, this paper studies the natives’ voting patterns in response to the movement of people from religious minorities and scheduled castes/tribes. In order to address the endogeneity of residential choices and to identify the causal impact of migrants on natives’ voting behavior, I have used instrumental variable approach based on shift-share instrument. The results suggest that migrants belonging to minority communities and scheduled castes/tribes contribute to increase in support for right-wing political parties.
The second paper titled “Female Leaders and Gender Differences in Education and Health” studies the role-model effect of the election of female politicians on reducing differential treatment between boys and girls in education and health related outcomes. Using large representative data from India and controlling for potential endogeneity, I have found no evidence of the impact of female politicians on reducing gender gap in household investment on education and health related outcomes. The third paper titled “Attitudes towards Life Satisfaction and Child Gender” studies the gender of new born child on mothers’ attitude towards life satisfaction. The results suggest that the gender of the child has a significant impact on the attitudes of mothers, and the relationship between gender and life satisfaction is negative for girls and positive for boys.
The Process
Step-by-Step
Visit our “Step-by-Step Graduation Guide” to take you through the graduation process.From formatting your Dissertation to Doctoral Hooding procedures.
Dissertation Manual
Wondering how to set up the format for your paper. Refer to the “UD Thesis/Dissertation Manual” for formatting requirements and more.
Defense Submission Form
This form must be completed two weeks in advance of a dissertation defense to meet the University of Delaware Graduate and Professional Education’s requirements.
