This week we featured research on computerisation of customs, adaptation in cities, broadband expansion & more
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This week we released two VoxDevTalks episodes. On Tuesday, Tim Phillips spoke to Matthew Kahn and Siqi Zheng about adaptation in cities, as the last episode in the mini-series covering the IGC-BREAD Urban Economics course. Yesterday, David Yang and Noam Yuchtman explored the economics of protests.
Expansion of mobile broadband plays a particularly important role in Africa where it constitutes the primary and often sole method of digital access for many individuals. In Monday's article, Taka Masaki, Carlos Rodríguez-Castelán, Hernan Winkler, Tobias Pfutze, Kalvin Bahia, Pau Castells, Genaro Cruz and Xavier Pedrós explored the significant benefits of the expansion of mobile broadband in Nigeria.
In our first article today, Marshall Burke, Joel Ferguson, Solomon Hsiang and Edward Miguel discuss their findings from their meta-analysis on conflict and climate change. They explore the policy implications including which policies can help ensure a more peaceful future.
Menstrual stigma is widespread around the world leading to serious and long-term consequences for girls. On Thursday, Julieta Vera Rueda, Karen Macours and Duncan Webb outlined how a hygiene- and menstruation-focused intervention in Madagascar challenged this stigma and the resultant benefits.
Colombia digitised much of its customs procedures, in an attempt to address concerns about excessive bureaucracy, unpredictable delays and rent-seeking behaviour by customs officials, that made trade costly for businesses. In our second article today, Rachid Laajaj, Marcela Eslava and Tidiane Kinda explore the effects of computerisation on trade, corruption and firm performance.
There is an ongoing debate about the appropriateness of place-based policies to achieve reductions in regional disparities and promote economic development. Johannes Gallé, Daniel Overbeck, Nadine Riedel and Tobias Seidel explore this question in the context of India's Special Economic Zones.
Studies on child sleep often lack real-world applicability and focus on short-term effects, leaving a gap in understanding on long-term educational impacts. In Wednesday's article, Maulik Jagnani fills this gap with his research on the impacts of later sunsets on children's sleep and educational outcomes in India.
Earlier this week, Managing Editor Oliver Hanney highlighted ten insights from development economics research in 2024. Elsewhere, there was lots of interesting reading:
- The process of state building and long-run growth by Tyler Smith.
- The impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on the economic development of the Western US by Carlo Medici, Nancy Qian & Marco Tabellini.
- CID Faculty Spotlight: Jie Bai on Private Sector Growth in Emerging Economies.
- On Nature, Helen Pearson writes that science could solve some of the world’s biggest problems. Why aren’t governments using it?
- Saloni Dattani wrote about five medical breakthroughs in 2024, and Open Philanthropy outlined five highlights from their scientific research portfolio.
- On IGC, Sarah Logan asks what is needed to scale up solar mini grids in fragile contexts.
Looking for some podcasts?
- Asha Sundaram launched a new podcast - Global Perspectives on Development Economics - featuring conversations with development economists, researchers/policy practitioners from low and middle income countries.
- On YouTube, watch econimate's latest video on "Women Left Behind", and find the Chief Economists of Governments discussion about "Economic Policy in Turbulent Times".
- On ODI Global, journalists discuss why Sudan's civil war isn't getting the attention it needs.
Plus the following announcements:
- Ugo Gentilini, who recently joined our podcast, is speaking at an event launch for his book: Timely Cash: Lesson From 2,500 Years of Giving People Money.
- FCDO and IPA announced the Strategic Impact Evaluation and Learning (SIEL) Programme.
We will be back on Monday with a full week of content on trade, ecosystem health and more!