Essays on Economic Shocks in Networks

This thesis explores the role of networks in disseminating the effects of economic shocks, within the realms of the political economy. The three self-contained chapters of the thesis focus on networks from a broad macroeconomic perspective, and apply a variety of novel and unconventional data to provide new insights on relationships within and between networks. Through the application of a set of arguably exogenous shocks, this thesis aims at causally inferring the direct and spillover effects attributable to such shocks. The three chapters also highlight the importance of linking academic research with policy making agendas.