Doctoral Candidate Dilshani Ranawaka
My primary research focuses on Behavioral Labor Economics, exploring the relationship between job search behavior, reservation wages, and personality traits. By integrating personality psychology into labor economics, I aim to provide a deeper understanding of how individual differences influence labor market outcomes mainly on job search among a) employed b) unemployed. Whil the study is primarily centered on Sri Lanka, cross-country comparisons will be conducted where data availability permits.
Previous academic career and other research interest
As an early-career researcher, I initially focused on macro-level economic analysis, examining State-Owned Enterprises and regulatory barriers for businesses in Sri Lanka while working at the Advocata Institute. However, my interest in microeconomic analysis led me to the Centre for Poverty Analysis (CEPA), where I specialized in data analysis on inequality-related issues in Sri Lanka. I have contributed to several key research projects, including:
- Asian Development Bank (ADB): Vocational education in Sri Lanka
- International Labour Organization (ILO): Care work in Sri Lanka
- Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD): Inclusivity in Sri Lanka’s transport sector
Beyond research, I have also written blogs on various socio-economic topics in Sri Lanka, contributing to public discourse and policy discussions.
My research interests initially centered on labor economics but expanded to include behavioral economics following my exposure at the Alfred Weber Institute of Economics. Additionally, I have a strong interest in Agent-Based Modeling, political economy, the economics of bribery, economic philosophy, and microeconomic analysis more broadly.