Sean Carroll's Mindscape: Science, Society, Philosophy, Culture, Arts, and Ideas 318 | Edward Miguel on the Developing Practice of Development Economics
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Jun 16, 2025 Edward Miguel, a distinguished economics professor at UC Berkeley, dives into development economics, focusing on poverty reduction in sub-Saharan Africa. He discusses the evolution of empirical methods like randomized controlled trials, spotlighting their role in improving global health and economic growth. With a look at cash transfers in Kenya, he highlights their transformative potential. Miguel also addresses climate change's effects on decision-making and the importance of transparency in research, drawing parallels with AI's role in economic analysis and social dynamics.
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Kenyan Deworming Field Trial
- Ted Miguel describes an early randomized controlled trial treating intestinal worms in Kenyan schools.
- This health intervention improved school attendance and reduced worm infections among treated and nearby untreated children.
Long-Term Benefits of Health Interventions
- Long-term tracking of populations after interventions reveals life-changing impacts.
- Dewormed children in Kenya earned 10% more as adults decades later due to early health investments.
Heat Increases Antisocial Behavior
- High temperatures reduce social cooperation and increase antisocial behavior in stressful environments.
- In Kenya, hot rooms raised destructive behaviors, especially among marginalized ethnic groups during political tensions.