VoxDev Development Economics

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.

Tahir Andrabi, a member of the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel, discusses the urgent need for evidence-based education policies following the Education World Forum in London. He emphasizes how policymakers often react to challenges against their ideas. The conversation dives into the lessons learned from COVID-19, revealing both the disruptions and opportunities it created for reform. Andrabi also highlights the importance of independent experts and local insights in crafting effective educational interventions, ensuring that policies serve the needs of all students.

Dominic Rohner, an academic from the University of Lausanne and author of 'The Peace Formula,' delves into the devastating impact of conflict on communities and economies. He discusses the alarming rise of global armed conflicts since WWII and how social engagement can reduce violence. Rohner critiques international peacekeeping strategies, arguing they often support corrupt regimes. He outlines democracy's role in stability through Switzerland's historical context, emphasizing leadership qualities necessary for effective peacebuilding.

Subha Mani, a specialist in vocational training's impact, and Neha Agarwal, a researcher on apprenticeship models, dive deep into youth employment challenges in developing countries. They reveal that conventional vocational programs often fail, yet certain training methods show impressive results. The conversation highlights the critical role of quality implementation and supplementary support. With a 25% increase in earnings linked to effective programs, the importance of innovating training approaches can reshape livelihoods for many.

David Evans, a leading expert on father involvement, and Pamela Jakiela, a specialist in parenting program adaptations, join Tim Phillips to discuss the crucial role fathers play in early childhood development. They explore how father engagement can complement maternal care and the alarming absence of fathers in low and middle-income countries. The conversation delves into the need for supportive policies and targeted interventions to enhance fathers' roles, showcasing successful examples from diverse cultural contexts.

Paul Collier has for many years challenged the conventional wisdom of development economics, bringing our attention to the real-world impact of policies many of us take for granted. His new book is called Left Behind. It is about how some countries or regions in the world fall behind, and what we can do to help them recover. In this week’s episode he talks to Tim Phillips about what causes a place to be left behind, the difficulty in stopping that downward spiral, and what the places that have recovered have in common.

Lisa Ho discusses the impact of flexible working arrangements on enhancing female labor force participation rates in India, exploring women's preferences for paid work, the use of gig work for machine learning algorithms, an experiment offering tasks to married women in Mumbai, hyper-local offices for women, and the impact of flexible work options on job take-up decisions.