As an economist Heath’s interests lie in development and labor economics. She is especially interested in female labor and much of her research focuses on increased labor market opportunities for women in developing countries (such as the garment industry in Bangladesh which was the topic of her doctoral thesis). She studies how new job opportunities are changing women's lives, the factors that influence women's decisions to join the labor force, and how firms make hiring decisions. She is currently working on the question (with Prof Manuela Angelucci) of How does Women’s Increased Agency Transform Household Welfare Outcomes in Fragile Settings? Other projects related to women’s work include: Women’s Job Opportunities and Marriage Quality (with Jagori Saha) and Intimate Partner Violence and Economic Development: Evidence from Colombia (with Nicolas Santos and Rafael Santos). As an associate professor she teaches on economic issues in developing countries and the micro economics of development.
