VoxDev Development Economics

Michael Callen, an economist at the London School of Economics, focuses on institutional change, while Jonathan Weigel from UC Berkeley specializes in experimental research. They discuss how rigorous experimental methods can illuminate the connection between institutions and economic growth. The conversation highlights the challenges of running experiments in varying contexts, using case studies like Congo's tax collection to showcase civic engagement. They also explore the role of mobile technology in enhancing institutional policy across different countries.

Will Masters, a Professor at Tufts University and co-author of the open-access textbook "Food Economics," discusses the intricate links between food systems and economics. He sheds light on the challenges faced by farmers and consumers in the global food supply chain. The conversation delves into the impact of open access resources on education, the economic struggles of family farms versus agribusiness, and the vital role of insurance in alleviating poverty. Masters also emphasizes the importance of integrating science into food policy for sustainable development.

David Atkin, a Professor at MIT and co-chair of J-PAL's firms sector, dives into the vital role of small businesses in low and middle-income countries. He discusses how unlocking market access can fuel their growth and employment potential. The conversation highlights productivity disparities and challenges faced by SMEs. Atkin explains the transformative impact of digital platforms on connecting these firms with global buyers, while addressing how market access policies can improve labor standards and enhance firm success.

Noam Angrist, an author affiliated with the What Works Hub for Global Education and the University of Oxford, dives deep into the education policy landscape. He discusses the troubling gap between policy intentions and educational realities, especially in low and middle-income countries. Angrist highlights how growing school attendance has not equated to improved learning outcomes. He emphasizes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education and advocates for better execution strategies in education policy to truly serve students' needs.

Christopher Adam, an expert advisor on African economic policy, shares insights on the tumultuous impacts of global crises like COVID-19 and the Ukraine war on sub-Saharan Africa. He discusses the unique challenges that policymakers face amidst these compounded shocks, highlighting how the region's historical vulnerabilities are exacerbated. Adam emphasizes the need for domestic reforms and international cooperation to boost economic resilience and navigate future challenges, making a case for renewed financial support critical for recovery.

Dev Patel of Harvard describes Bangladesh as “ground zero for the harmful effects of climate change”. Extreme weather events, particularly floods, are already affecting the lives of millions of people who live there and are making life more difficult for the country’s farmers. He tells Tim Phillips how he harnessed machine learning to create for the first time reliable global data on flooding – and also used his methods to find a way to give Bangladesh’s beleaguered farmers better data on what crops to grow. Check out the full show notes on VoxDev: https://voxdev.org/topic/energy-environment/how-do-floods-impact-economic-development

In a meritocracy more people can do jobs that match their skills, making them more productive. It’s not just good for them, it’s good for the economy too. So how effective are the policies that try to make countries more meritocratic? Oriana Bandiera and Ilse Lindenlaub tell Tim Phillips how much productivity countries are sacrificing because the wrong people are in the wrong jobs, which countries are most meritocratic, and how we can best help the others to catch up. Check out the full show notes on VoxDev: https://voxdev.org/topic/macroeconomics-growth/how-meritocracy-varies-across-world

More people die from contaminated drinking water and poor sanitation than from water-related disasters. What are the consequences if we don’t provide safe drinking water, especially for children, and what technologies and policies can accelerate that change? In the first of a series of VoxDev Talks based on J-PAL Policy Insights, Pascaline Dupas of Princeton, also Scientific Director for J-PAL Africa, explains the importance of clean water to Tim Phillips. Check out the full show notes on VoxDev: https://voxdev.org/topic/health/improving-access-and-usage-clean-water

Pranab Bardhan, a distinguished academic from Berkeley, shares insights from his memoir, 'Charaiveti: An Academic’s Global Journey,' reflecting on his life across India, the UK, and the US. He discusses the relevance of Marx's questions today and the lessons economists can learn from anthropologists. Bardhan contrasts governance in China and India, analyzing how local bureaucratic incentives impact development. He emphasizes the difficulties of translating theoretical policies into practice and advocates for community-driven solutions to climate change and poverty.

Debraj Ray, an expert in economic mobility, and Garance Genicot, a researcher on upward mobility in developing countries, engage in a compelling discussion. They explore the complexities of measuring upward mobility in low-income nations, highlighting challenges like data scarcity and the informal economy. The conversation examines the Great Gatsby Curve, showing how income inequality impacts social mobility. They stress the importance of education in facilitating upward mobility and the critical need for nuanced policy-making that fosters shared prosperity.