Nahom Kegne
Class of 2027Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
About
Hello! My name is Nahom Kegne, a high school student with a strong interest in economics, public policy, and labor market research. My project explores how guaranteed income programs shape workers’ job opportunities, arguing that the quality of employment people find matters more than whether they’re simply working. I plan to keep developing this research through conferences, publication, and future study in economics and public policy. Feel free to reach out at email:[email protected] or connect with me on LinkedIn:www.linkedin.com/in/nahom-kegne-2a87002a8Projects
- "Central Claim: Localized guaranteed income pilots do not inevitably induce an unconditional reduction in work effort via the classical income effect; rather, they act as a labor search subsidy whose structural efficacy is strictly moderated by the host municipality's labor market typology." with mentor Alexandra (Working project)
Project Portfolio
Central Claim: Localized guaranteed income pilots do not inevitably induce an unconditional reduction in work effort via the classical income effect; rather, they act as a labor search subsidy whose structural efficacy is strictly moderated by the host municipality's labor market typology.
Started Apr. 9, 2026
Abstract or project description
The paper examines whether guaranteed income programs should be understood not primarily as poverty alleviation tools, but as labor search subsidies that allow low income workers to spend more time searching for better employment opportunities. It investigates whether local labor market conditions influence the effectiveness of this mechanism by comparing outcomes from the Stockton SEED and Compton Pledge guaranteed income pilots. Drawing on labor search and matching theory, the project explores whether changes in employment outcomes are better explained by job matching dynamics than by traditional labor supply theories focused on work disincentives. The paper also considers alternative explanations, including pandemic related disruptions and the possibility that existing pilot studies may not observe workers long enough to capture successful job transitions. Ultimately, the project argues that labor force participation alone may be an incomplete measure of guaranteed income program success and that local labor market conditions may play an important role in shaping outcomes.