Professional Education

  • Bachelor of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras (2006)
  • Master of Business Admin, Institute of Rural Management (2009)
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (2019)
  • PhD, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Agricultural and Applied Economics (2019)
  • MPA, Cornell University, Public Administration (2013)

Stanford Advisors

Contact

  • Academic
    University - Scholar Department: Department of Earth System Science Position: Postdoctoral Scholar

Additional Info

  • Mail Code: 4216

All Publications

  • Choosing Plan B Over Plan A: Risk Compensation Theory and Contraceptive Choice in India. Demography Shukla, P., Pullabhotla, H. K., Arends-Kuenning, M. 2021; 58 (1): 273–94

    Abstract

    Can women's contraceptive method choice be better understood through risk compensation theory? This theory implies that people act with greater care when the perceived risk of an activity is higher and with less care when it is lower. We examine how increased over-the-counter access to emergency contraceptive pills (ECPs) accompanied by marketing campaigns in India affected women's contraceptive method choices and incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Although ECPs substantially reduce the risk of pregnancy, they are less effective than other contraceptive methods and do not reduce the risk of STIs. We test whether an exogenous policy change that increased access to ECPs leads people to substitute away from other methods of contraception, such as condoms, thereby increasing the risk of both unintended pregnancy and STIs. We find evidence for risk compensation in terms of reduced use of condoms but not for increases in rates of STIs.

    View details for DOI 10.1215/00703370-8932007

    View details for PubMedID 33834245