VoxDev Development Economics

Why do trade barriers remain high in developing countries despite the significant potential to drive economic growth through trade? Advanced economies have mostly removed tariffs and other barriers to trade. By contrast, in many developing countries such barriers remain in spite of the huge potential to drive economic growth through trade. In this VoxDev talk, David Atkin and Amit Khandelwal discuss their new paper on trade in developing economies. They argue that we think about trade policy often through neoclassical models that emphasise perfect competition. Whilst this way of thinking may suit environments in advanced economies, it does not resemble the realities on ground in developing countries.     Read “How distortions alter the impact of international trade in developing countries” by David Atkin and Amit Khandelwal here.

Many development economists have advocated unconditional cash transfers as a crucial tool for reducing poverty, especially during the present COVID-19 pandemic. In this VoxDev talk, Karthik Muralidharan discusses the effects of a small unconditional cash transfer for India’s development goals. He argues that an inclusive growth dividend, pegged at 1% of GDP and paid to all citizens, would have major positive impacts on key development indicators.  And crucially, such a transfer is fiscally affordable for India, as opposed to Universal Basic Income, which requires spending of 4-10% of GDP.    Read "An inclusive growth dividend: Reframing the role of income transfers in India’s anti-poverty strategy" by Maitreesh Ghatak and Karthik Muralidharan here.  

Exploring the impact of vocational training in Mongolia on labor market outcomes including positive effects on employment and earnings, particularly for women. Discussion on the methodology of a randomized control trial and challenges in evaluating long-term data. Insights on the popularity of vocational schools in Mongolia and the range of trade programs offered.

Why do we still see high rates of child marriage in settings such as Bangladesh, despite significant improvements in women’s economic empowerment?

How do poor mental health and poverty interact, and how can we best ensure access to mental health services?

How can we best incentivise bureaucrats in a formal manner that avoids concerns over corruption?

Can policymakers speed up the adoption of modern agricultural technologies through peer-to-peer learning?

To what extent do the poorest rural households in sub-Saharan Africa benefit from residential electrification investments?

Do unconditional cash transfers increase welfare in communities as a whole, even within households that do not receive them?

How can governments in developing countries best ensure widespread and effective social protection in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?