Sarah Vincent

Welcome! I am a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, in the Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health. I am part of the Program on Women's Empowerment Research, directed by Mahesh Karra.

I am an applied microeconomist studying the determinants and consequences of gender norms, women's agency, and gender-based violence. My research interests lie at the intersection of development economics, political economy, economic history, and health economics. 

My work integrates theoretical modeling and empirical analysis, using diverse data sources—including surveys, historical records, and randomized controlled trials—to inform policy.

My research focuses on (i) the long-run consequences of coercive state interventions for violence, social norms, and well-being; (ii) gender norms, female empowerment, and women's economic participation, including entrepreneurship, mobility, and household decision-making; and (iii) reproductive health, including contraceptive decision-making and menstrual health.

References: Siwan Anderson, Renaud Bourlès, Pauline Grosjean, Mahesh Karra, Nathan Nunn and Roberta Ziparo.

News

• I will be on the 2026-2027 academic job market.

• We just launched the Africa POWER Consortium website: visit us!

• The POWER Consortium moved to Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in September 2025!