People I (Mostly) Admire 50. Edward Miguel on Collecting Economic Data by Canoe and Correlating Conflict with Rainfall
Nov 6, 2021
Edward Miguel, a UC Berkeley professor renowned for his work on randomized controlled trials in economics, dives into an array of fascinating topics. He discusses the dramatic impacts of deworming on children's health and education in Kenya. Miguel also sheds light on the surprising link between climate change and conflict in Africa, illustrating how rainfall patterns can influence instability. Additionally, he shares insights from a unique study on parking violations by UN diplomats, revealing unexpected ties between corruption and diplomatic behaviors.
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Worms in Kenya
- Edward Miguel's deworming project in Kenya involved treating children for intestinal parasites.
- The treatment was simple, costing only 30 cents per child annually.
Deworming Externalities
- Deworming has positive externalities, benefiting untreated individuals by reducing infection rates.
- Edward Miguel's study used a cluster-randomized design, treating all children within a school.
Long-Term Impact of Deworming
- Deworming led to a significant increase in lifetime income, approximately 10%, for treated children.
- This impact highlights the substantial long-term benefits of a low-cost health intervention.
