Podcasts by VoxDev Development Economics

Hear about the cutting edge of development economics from research to practice.

Further podcasts by VoxDev.org

Podcast on the topic Sozialwissenschaften

All episodes

S3 Ep43: The social cost of carbon from 2023-12-12T09:00

What is the social cost of carbon? What can it tell us about the effects of, and the feasibility of policies to cope with, climate change? Michael Greenstone tells Tim Phillips about how the p...

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S3 Ep42: Bridging the divide between micro and macro research from 2023-12-06T09:00

Macroeconomic development policies can be effective to combat poverty. But a lot of research uses smaller-scale RCTs and experiments. Can macro theory and micro empirical research complement o...

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S3 Ep41: Global value chains and development from 2023-11-29T09:00

The rapid spread of GVCs has revolutionised the manufacture and supply of … everything. We can point to trade statistics to show that. But what aspects of the relationship between producers an...

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S3 Ep40: Renewable energy in LMICs from 2023-11-21T09:00

In developing countries, electricity is still mostly generated from fossil fuels. So how quickly can that change? And what policies are needed to speed innovation in renewables and the transit...

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S3 Ep39: The inequality of environmental damage from 2023-11-15T09:00

We tend to discuss changes to the natural environment in big, global numbers. But the impact of those changes is felt in different ways by different people in different places. Tamma Carleton ...

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S3 Ep38: Pollution and regulation in LMICs from 2023-11-08T09:00

Where there are no markets for clean air or drinkable water, can regulation step in? The latest lecture in the Bread-ICG lecture series on environmental economics explored the challenges of en...

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S3 Ep37: Skill versus voice in local development from 2023-11-01T09:00

When the state is weak, autocratic traditional chiefs control the provision of public goods. If they don’t have the technical skills that these tasks need, can delegation to technocrats or inc...

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S3 Ep36: International climate action from 2023-10-25T08:00

Policies and commitments to tackle climate change emerge from global meetings and conferences. In our latest episode examining policy for environmental economics in development, Bard Harstad t...

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S3 Ep35: Finance and climate resilience from 2023-10-11T08:00

In future we’re going to have to cope with a more volatile climate, but how can we increase the resilience of the most vulnerable communities? An analysis of droughts in the US in the 1950s sh...

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S3 Ep34: The economics of conservation in LMICs from 2023-10-04T08:00

In the second of our episodes examining policy for environmental economics in development, Seema Jayachandran and Ben Olken talk to Tim Phillips about how to reduce pollution and increase cons...

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S3 Ep33: Environmental economics and policy in LMICs from 2023-09-27T08:46

In the first of a series of episodes that investigates policy for environmental economics in development, Kelsey Jack and Robin Burgess introduce the topic to Tim Phillips, and its implication...

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S3 Ep32: Political economy and development from 2023-09-20T08:00

The study of institutions and political power is a strand of development research that in recent years has taught us a lot about – in the name of the famous book – Why Nations Fail, but also w...

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S3 Ep31: Decentralised governance in developing countries from 2023-09-13T08:00

In the last 30 years many governments have attempted to shift service delivery away from a central bureaucracy to local administrations. How well has it worked, and what do we know about the r...

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S3 Ep30: Targeting health incentives in India from 2023-09-06T08:00

Most policies are one-size-fits-all. But in some cases, we can do better. How can we design an intervention that incentivises people to manage their diabetes and hypertension, and does it deli...

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S3 Ep29: Air pollution and infant mortality from 2023-08-30T08:00

Poor air quality is a danger to children’s health, but most of what we know about the effects are from wealthy countries or large cities. A multidisciplinary study has estimated the impact of ...

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S3 Ep28: Putting research into practice at the Inter-American Development Bank from 2023-08-23T08:00

The economies of Latin America and the Caribbean are facing some tough economic problems. What policies will improve prospects for people who live in the region? Eric Parrado, Chief Economist ...

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S3 Ep27: Unpacking anti-poverty programmes from 2023-08-16T08:00

Multifaceted graduation programmes can permanently change the lives of desperately poor people. But which components of these programs are the most important? And would any of these single int...

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S3 Ep26: Politics and participatory development in Ghana from 2023-08-09T08:00

Should the community have a greater say in determining how aid is spent? Participatory development aid has the goal of making sure that governments can’t misuse aid to buy approval. It’s an im...

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S3 Ep25: Research into practice: DIME from 2023-08-02T08:00

The challenge of creating evidence-based policy inspired Arianna Legovini of the World Bank to create an entirely new model of impact evaluation: The Development Impact Evaluation (DIME) group...

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S3 Ep24: Understanding rural-urban migration in the developing world from 2023-07-26T08:00

Programs that incentivise rural workers to migrate to cities in Bangladesh for seasonal work have been successful. But why don’t more people migrate in this way, and why do some choose not to ...

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S3 Ep23: Globalisation and the ladder of development from 2023-07-19T08:00

Thinking about development as a ladder is a useful metaphor, but is it true? Can every country climb, or does trade push some countries up the ladder, and some countries down? David Atkin of M...

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S3 Ep22: Duflo: Development in the 21st century from 2023-07-12T08:00

In the first of a series of podcasts recorded at the PSE-CEPR Policy Forum at the Paris School of Economics, Esther Duflo talks to Tim Phillips about how development economics can respond to t...

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S3 Ep21: Cost-effective ways to improve global learning from 2023-07-05T08:00

In a world of limited resources, which interventions to help kids learn offer the best value for money? A new report evaluates the evidence and gives some clear policy recommendations about wh...

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S3 Ep20: Expanding higher education empowered women in Egypt from 2023-06-07T08:00

Increasing access to education, specifically higher education, can lead to better life chances, particularly for women. But how large is the benefit, and what changes? Ahmed Elsayed talks to T...

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S3 Ep19: The rise and fall of local elections in China from 2023-05-31T08:00

When dictators introduce local elections, more democracy at the local level may mean less control for the rulers. For a time in rural China, elected village leaders implemented government poli...

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S3 Ep18: Promoting national integration in Nigeria from 2023-05-24T08:00

When a country’s borders encompass several distinct ethnic groups, how does it create a national identity? A program in Nigeria assigns graduates to different ethnic regions for a year. Does t...

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S3 Ep17: Do public works programs have sustained impacts? from 2023-05-17T08:00

How effective are workfare programs at achieving their goals? Do they provide a way for participants to change their lives, or just short-term extra income? Eric Mvukiyehe and Subha Mani have ...

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S3 Ep16: Public works programs in fragile economies from 2023-05-10T08:02

Public works programs – workfare – are used in many fragile and conflict-affected countries to offer a safety net to poor and vulnerable households. But how large is their impact, do men and w...

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S3 Ep15: Rebel governance and development in El Salvador from 2023-05-03T08:00

El Salvador’s civil war ended a generation ago, but what is its legacy in the regions that were occupied by guerrillas? The economy can recover, but is there longer-lasting damage to instituti...

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S3 Ep14: How childcare empowers women from 2023-04-26T08:00

Better access to childcare may make it easier for women to get jobs outside the home, get better jobs, or make more money doing the job they have already. All desirable outcomes, but how easy ...

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S3 Ep13: Work, women and domestic violence from 2023-04-19T08:00

If we can provide better employment opportunities for women, in theory that could reduce domestic violence – but strong empirical evidence has been hard to find. Deniz Sanin tell Tim Phillips ...

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S3 Ep12: Research into practice: evidence from healthcare from 2023-04-12T08:00

Zulfiqar Bhutta of the Centre for Global Child Health is one of the global leaders in implementing large-scale public health programs in developing countries. He tells Tim Phillips about what ...

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S3 Ep11: Can agricultural extensions be discontinued? from 2023-04-05T08:00

When there’s a successful agricultural extension program, how much of that success is sustained when it is discontinued? How long it takes to change behaviour, and whether change is permanent,...

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S3 Ep10: How monitoring workers can backfire from 2023-03-29T09:00

Managers often don’t know how much effort their workers are putting into a job. Technology offers a way to solve this problem by monitoring those workers automatically. But do all workers put ...

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S3 Ep9: Mother-father differences in spending on children from 2023-03-15T09:00

Are fathers more generous to their sons than their daughters? If that investment is in the child’s education and healthcare, then gender-based differences are not just unfair, they give sons a...

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S3 Ep8: FDI inflows and domestic firms from 2023-03-08T09:00

How does trade policy shape foreign direct investment in exporting countries, and how might this affect their structural transformation? Nina Pavcnik tells Tim Phillips about the long-run impa...

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S3 Ep7: How child mortality persists across generations from 2023-03-01T09:00

The risk that a child will die is lower than it used to be, but in low-income countries it is still not unusual. But how persistent is this in families, and what does this tell us about the ca...

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S3 Ep6: Elite control and development in Brazil from 2023-02-22T09:00

In the 1960s, Brazil’s military dictatorship set out to undermine the power of local political elites by creating local political competition. New research finds that in the regions where the ...

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S3 Ep5: The impact of public childcare in Brazil from 2023-02-15T09:00

How does providing daycare affect infants, their parents, and even their grandparents during the seven years that follow? When Rio de Janeiro held a lottery for thousands of places, David Evan...

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S3 Ep4: Grandmothers and the Mexican labour market from 2023-02-08T09:00

If women want or need to work outside the home, someone needs to look after their kids. In Mexico, that person has traditionally been the grandmother. But what happens when she’s suddenly not ...

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S3 Ep3: Did joint ventures help China’s auto business? from 2023-02-01T09:30

When FDI mandates joint ventures foreign firms get market access, and their local partners get access to knowledge and technology in return. Does the policy benefit the host economy and its co...

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S3 Ep2: Promotion, pay, and productivity from 2023-01-25T09:00

Do healthcare workers in Sierra Leone work harder when they know that promotion is based on performance, rather than friendships or connections? And if they discover that promotion isn’t only ...

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S3 Ep1: Democracy and infrastructure investment in Indonesia from 2023-01-18T09:00

When Indonesia’s dictatorship became a democracy in 1999, did it affect the investment in healthcare? And was that spending allocated where it was most needed, or where it would win the most v...

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S2 Ep42: Corruption in Customs from 2022-11-30T09:00

In Madagascar, the taxes and duties collected by customs are half of the government’s tax revenue: so the potential cost of corruption is huge. Ana Fernandes and Bob Rijkers are two of a team ...

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S2 Ep41: The benefits of road maintenance in Indonesia from 2022-11-23T09:00

We naturally assume that maintaining highways helps developing economies to grow and people to thrive. But there’s surprisingly little hard evidence on what the return on this investment could...

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S2 Ep40: The impact of privatisation from 2022-11-09T09:00

When governments want to raise revenue, they often look for state-owned assets to privatise. What is the effect on the people who work in these firms? David Arnold talks to Tim Phillips about ...

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S2 Ep39: Improving the welfare of migrant workers from 2022-11-02T09:00

Millions of Sri Lankans have migrated to the Gulf region to work, but almost one in 10 makes a formal complaint to the consulate about abuse or employer malpractice. Is there a better way to p...

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S2 Ep38: The challenges of improving public sector management from 2022-10-12T08:00

Imagine an intervention that combined funding, best practice delivered at scale, and near-universal compliance. Should this guarantee it will succeed? Not necessarily, according to a study of ...

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S2 Ep37: Better bureaucrats in a crisis from 2022-10-05T08:00

What role do bureaucrats play in a crisis? We might think that the best bureaucracy would be made up of people who are very good at doing exactly what they are told. But research into the impa...

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S2 Ep36: How corporate debarment affects workers in Brazil from 2022-09-28T09:00

What are the consequences for workers if they are employed by a firm that is sanctioned for corruption? We’re back in Brazil: Christiane Szerman tells Tim Phillips that the quest to do the rig...

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S2 Ep35: The unequal effects of pollution from 2022-09-21T08:00

Every year, ambient air pollution kills 3 million people, and causes respiratory problems for hundreds of millions more. Can low-paid workers avoid the harmful effects of air pollution without...

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S2 Ep34: Job loss and crime in Brazil from 2022-09-15T10:30

When workers become unemployed, do some turn to crime instead – and does unemployment insurance make a difference? Diogo Britto and Paolo Pinotti tell Tim Phillips about how disaggregated data...

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S2 Ep33: Politics at work from 2022-09-07T08:00

Does who you vote for influence the chances that you are hired, fired, and promoted? Edoardo Teso tells Tim Phillips about Brazil’s politically polarised labour market.

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S2 Ep32: Expanding access to clean water from 2022-08-10T09:00

Almost 2 billion people don’t have access to clean water, which means increased risk of disease, especially for young children. Pascaline Dupas tells Tim Phillips how an experiment in Malawi t...

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S2 Ep31: Enhancing women’s economic empowerment from 2022-08-03T09:00

Do policies to provide women with financial resources or financial services give them more economic independence? Less often than we would like, Mikaela Rabb tells Tim Phillips.

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S2 Ep30: Criminal governance in Colombia from 2022-07-27T09:00

If weak states fail to provide order and security, sometimes criminal gangs step in. Can this problem be fixed by targeting resources to the places most in need of help, and what happens when ...

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S2 Ep29: How workfare cut conflict from 2022-07-20T09:00

By 2030, half the world’s poor will be living in conflict-affected areas. Could some of the resources dedicated to helping them be spent to prevent those conflicts? Thiemo Fetzer of the Univer...

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S2 Ep28: Surviving the hungry season from 2022-07-13T09:00

For small farmers the most difficult months of the years are the “hungry season” before the harvest. What would be the effect of a small loan at this time? A program in Zambia tweaked the rule...

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S2 Ep27: Respond or anticipate? from 2022-07-06T09:00

In the monsoon season of 2020, 5.5 million people in Bangladesh were affected by severe floods. But the UN was able to help thousands of households by sending them cash before the floods hit. ...

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S2 Ep26: Poverty and resilience from 2022-06-29T07:00

When households escape poverty, how likely is it they will fall back in the future? Loki Phadera of the World Bank and Hope Michelson of the University of Illinois explain to Tim Phillips why ...

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S2 Ep25: Cash transfers and child health from 2022-06-22T09:00

Children in low-income countries are 12 times more likely to die before their fifth birthday than those in high-income countries. Cash transfers to households may increase money spent on the h...

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S2 Ep24: How Airbel Lab creates cost-effective impact from 2022-06-15T07:00

Which interventions work best, and how can we tweak them to work better? How well could they work in other places, and what changes should we make? Airbel Impact Lab, part of the International...

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S2 Ep23: Resolving disputes in Liberia from 2022-06-08T07:00

When there is conflict, can outsiders help by creating informal ways for communities to resolve their disputes? Chris Blattman tells Tim Phillips about the long-term impact of a project to do ...

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S2 Ep22: Seed dealers can be change agents from 2022-06-01T07:00

How do we encourage small farmers to adopt new types of seeds in LICs? Government agents can help spread the word – but Kyle Emerick of Tufts University tells Tim Phillips that the dealers who...

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S2 Ep21: Targeting the ultra-poor in Afghanistan from 2022-05-25T09:00

People who live in extreme poverty are increasingly concentrated in fragile and conflict-affected areas. Can a "big push" from the Targeting the Ultra Poor program help? Guadalupe Bedoya and A...

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S2 Ep20: Targeting the ultra-poor from 2022-05-18T07:00

If poor people are caught in a poverty trap, a large one-time grant might be life changing. That's the thinking behind programs to target the ultra-poor. But is the impact of this "big push" g...

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S2 Ep19: Better seeds or better insurance? from 2022-05-11T07:00

Extreme weather doesn't just ruin one crop: it means that the following year small farmers won't have income to invest. Better seeds and insurance against this sort of bad luck are partial sol...

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S2 Ep18: Progresa's legacy, 20 years on from 2022-05-04T07:00

Progresa was the groundbreaking and much-copied cash transfer program created by the Mexican government in 1997. Literally millions of children benefited from it. But are they still feeling th...

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S2 Ep17: Hiring from suppliers and customers from 2022-04-27T13:40

Research from the Dominican Republic shows that it is more common than we assumed (and more beneficial to both parties) if workers move to another firm in the same supply chain. Cian Ruane tel...

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S2 Ep16: Does workfare work? from 2022-04-20T07:00

How much do we know about what workfare programs achieve for people who take part? An analysis of one program in Côte d’Ivoire fills in some of the gaps in our knowledge, Patrick Premand tells...

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S2 Ep15: Making entrepreneurs from 2022-04-13T07:00

Entrepreneurs create most of the new jobs in Africa. But can the skills of an entrepreneur be taught, and which skills will be most useful for Africa's young businesspeople? Paul Gertler tells...

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S2 Ep14: Does being open to trade help development? from 2022-04-06T07:00

Economists have been arguing about whether openness to international trade creates growth for 250 years. David Atkin tells Tim Phillips about his analysis of the conditions in which increased ...

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S2 Ep13: Distortion by audit from 2022-03-30T07:00

Auditing ensures public procurement is good value. Or does it? An experiment in Chile suggests the audit itself makes procurement less efficient afterwards. Dina Pomeranz opened the black box ...

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S2 Ep12: Creating social cohesion in Turkey's schools from 2022-03-23T07:00

Turkey has received 4m refugees from Syria, a quarter of them children. How can its schools integrate so many new students, help them to make friends and to learn a new language? Sule Alan tel...

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S2 Ep11: Pensions and poverty in Paraguay from 2022-03-16T07:00

Paraguay, like Peru and Mexico, is supporting seniors with a monthly non-contributory pension payment. What difference does this income make to the people who receive it? Quite a lot, Sebastia...

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S2 Ep10: Food or food stamps? from 2022-03-09T07:00

Indonesia recently started providing vouchers instead of rice to millions of households. Elan Satriawan of National Team for Acceleration of Poverty Reduction tells Tim Phillips that this has ...

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S2 Ep9: Is information or cash the cure for malnutrition? from 2022-03-02T07:00

Malnutrition in children is a silent killer. Is it made worse by lack of knowledge or lack of income? Michael Levere tells Tim Phillips about an experiment in Nepal that investigated the best ...

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S2 Ep8: Rural roads, agricultural extension, and productivity from 2022-02-23T09:00

In Ethiopia, one development program is building roads to remote villages, while another tries to make small farms more productive. Mesay Gebresilasse tells Tim Phillips how well the projects ...

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S2 Ep7: Corruption and firms in Brazil from 2022-02-16T09:00

In May 2003 the Brazilian government launched an anti-corruption program that exposed and suspended corrupt public officials. Emanuele Colonnelli tells Tim Phillips that the campaign worked – ...

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S2 Ep6: Building trust in Pakistan's court system from 2022-02-09T07:00

When courts lack credibility, non-state actors may step in – and the less that we engage with state institutions, the weaker they become. How do we turn this around? Daron Acemoglu tells Tim P...

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S2 Ep5: Supporting learning out of school from 2022-02-02T07:00

In developing countries, more than 90% of children go to primary school. How can we best support their learning? An experiment in India targeted both the times the kids are in school, and the ...

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S2 Ep4: Disaster relief in Mexico from 2022-01-26T07:00

The Mexican government attempted to reduce the effect of extreme weather on people’s lives by establishing FONDEN, a fund to finance recovery and reconstruction. Alejandro del Valle tells Tim ...

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S2 Ep3: The legacy of autocracy in China from 2022-01-19T09:30

When state repression does its job, does it make us less charitable and less likely to speak our minds afterwards – and, if so, how long does that effect last? Melanie Meng Xue discusses the c...

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S2 Ep2: The gender pay gap in India's markets from 2022-01-12T07:00

In almost every job, in high and low-income countries, women earn less than men. Solène Delecourt tells Tim Phillips about a series of experiments that help explain why male vegetable sellers ...

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S2 Ep1: Are there too many farms in the world? from 2022-01-05T07:00

Low-income countries have many small farms, and high-income countries have far fewer large farms and much higher agricultural productivity. Tim Phillips asks Mark Rosenzweig whether developing...

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S1 Ep70: India's school assessments fail the reliability test from 2021-12-15T07:00

In India, tests intended to evaluate overall student achievement, soon to be rolled out nationally, suffer from massive grade inflation - even though no children or teachers are rewarded or pu...

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S1 Ep70: India's school assessments fail the reliability test from 2021-12-15T07:00

In India, tests intended to evaluate overall student achievement, soon to be rolled out nationally, suffer from massive grade inflation - even though no children or teachers are rewarded or pu...

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S1 Ep69: Stay or migrate? from 2021-12-08T07:00

A structural transformation means workers moving to cities for good jobs, or better living conditions for their families, maybe also having smaller families. But these decisions are not made i...

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S1 Ep69: Stay or migrate? from 2021-12-08T07:00

A structural transformation means workers moving to cities for good jobs, or better living conditions for their families, maybe also having smaller families. But these decisions are not made i...

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S1 Ep68: Do marketers matter for entrepreneurs? from 2021-12-01T07:00

Entrepreneurs in developing countries need access to finance, education, and better institutions. But do they need more marketing? Stephen J Anderson of the University of Texas tells Tim Phill...

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S1 Ep68: Do marketers matter for entrepreneurs? from 2021-12-01T07:00

Entrepreneurs in developing countries need access to finance, education, and better institutions. But do they need more marketing? Stephen J Anderson of the University of Texas tells Tim Phill...

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S1 Ep67: The search for good jobs from 2021-11-24T07:00

There are 420 million young people in Africa today, but 140 million are unemployed, and another 130 million are underemployed or in working poverty. What type of interventions will help them i...

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S1 Ep67: The search for good jobs from 2021-11-24T07:00

There are 420 million young people in Africa today, but 140 million are unemployed, and another 130 million are underemployed or in working poverty. What type of interventions will help them i...

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S1 Ep66: Information operations and civilian cooperation from 2021-11-17T07:00

In many conflict situations, should winning hearts and minds be the priority? Information operations are an essential part of military strategy, but so far there have been few systematic evalu...

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S1 Ep66: Information operations and civilian cooperation from 2021-11-17T07:00

In many conflict situations, should winning hearts and minds be the priority? Information operations are an essential part of military strategy, but so far there have been few systematic evalu...

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S1 Ep65: A low-cost way to raise tax revenues in Uganda from 2021-11-10T07:00

Policy to increase tax compliance in developing countries often focuses on enforcement, and that's difficult, unpopular, and costly. Are there other ways to encourage small businesses to pay t...

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S1 Ep65: A low-cost way to raise tax revenues in Uganda from 2021-11-10T07:00

Policy to increase tax compliance in developing countries often focuses on enforcement, and that's difficult, unpopular, and costly. Are there other ways to encourage small businesses to pay t...

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S1 Ep64: Caste and occupation in India from 2021-11-03T07:00

India's caste system traditionally determined which occupation families chose. In modern India, does caste still influence someone's choice of job? Daniel Keniston tells Tim Phillips about the...

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S1 Ep64: Caste and occupation in India from 2021-11-03T07:00

India's caste system traditionally determined which occupation families chose. In modern India, does caste still influence someone's choice of job? Daniel Keniston tells Tim Phillips about the...

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S1 Ep63: Controlling Indonesia's forest fires from 2021-10-27T07:00

Satellite data from Indonesia shows the damage that out-of-control illegal forest fires, set by farmers to clear their land, do to other people's property and to the environment. Ben Olken tel...

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S1 Ep63: Controlling Indonesia's forest fires from 2021-10-27T07:00

Satellite data from Indonesia shows the damage that out-of-control illegal forest fires, set by farmers to clear their land, do to other people's property and to the environment. Ben Olken tel...

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S1 Ep62: Buying votes from 2021-10-20T07:00

Politicians can bribe their way to an election win, but in a democracy we throw them out if they perform badly afterwards. Or maybe not: Jessica Leight tells Tim Phillips that vote-buying embo...

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S1 Ep62: Buying votes from 2021-10-20T07:00

Politicians can bribe their way to an election win, but in a democracy we throw them out if they perform badly afterwards. Or maybe not: Jessica Leight tells Tim Phillips that vote-buying embo...

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S1 Ep61: Incentivising Africa's businesses to pay taxes from 2021-10-13T07:00

Low-income countries struggle to collect tax, hurting economic stability, raising debt levels, cutting growth, and gutting basic services. Abebe Shimeles of African Economic Research Consortiu...

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S1 Ep61: Incentivising Africa's businesses to pay taxes from 2021-10-13T07:00

Low-income countries struggle to collect tax, hurting economic stability, raising debt levels, cutting growth, and gutting basic services. Abebe Shimeles of African Economic Research Consortiu...

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S1 Ep60: The value of India's rural roads from 2021-10-06T07:00

Big infrastructure projects are often dismissed as expensive and problematic. But Yogita Shamdasani tells Tim Phillips how a national roadbuilding program in India has transformed the lives of...

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S1 Ep60: The value of India's rural roads from 2021-10-06T07:00

Big infrastructure projects are often dismissed as expensive and problematic. But Yogita Shamdasani tells Tim Phillips how a national roadbuilding program in India has transformed the lives of...

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S1 Ep59: Rewarding voters in Ghana from 2021-09-29T07:00

Will a government target spending in places where it thinks it can pick up support in the next election, or target funding to regions that supported it? A new paper analyses election results a...

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S1 Ep59: Rewarding voters in Ghana from 2021-09-29T07:00

Will a government target spending in places where it thinks it can pick up support in the next election, or target funding to regions that supported it? A new paper analyses election results a...

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S1 Ep58: Families as social institutions from 2021-09-22T07:00

When economists talk about the "household", they usually mean a family. But Natalie Bau and Raquel Fernandez tell Tim Phillips that there are many types of family, with many cultural tradition...

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S1 Ep58: Families as social institutions from 2021-09-22T07:00

When economists talk about the "household", they usually mean a family. But Natalie Bau and Raquel Fernandez tell Tim Phillips that there are many types of family, with many cultural tradition...

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S1 Ep57: Education technology: Ready for prime time? from 2021-09-20T09:00

For half a century Mexico's rural middle-schoolers have attended "telesecundaria" schools, in which they watch their lessons on TV. It saves money and makes sure that kids have qualified teach...

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57: Education technology: Ready for prime time? from 2021-09-20T09:00

For half a century Mexico's rural middle-schoolers have attended "telesecundaria" schools, in which they watch their lessons on TV. It saves money and makes sure that kids have qualified teach...

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S1 Ep57: Education technology: Ready for prime time? from 2021-09-20T09:00

For half a century Mexico's rural middle-schoolers have attended "telesecundaria" schools, in which they watch their lessons on TV. It saves money and makes sure that kids have qualified teach...

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S1 Ep55: Learning from our urban past from 2021-09-17T09:00

Cities in developing economies can still learn a lot from our urban past, Ed Glaeser tells Tim Phillips. For thousands of years ancient cities have been coping with migration, transport, disea...

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S1 Ep55: Learning from our urban past from 2021-09-17T09:00

Cities in developing economies can still learn a lot from our urban past, Ed Glaeser tells Tim Phillips. For thousands of years ancient cities have been coping with migration, transport, disea...

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S1 Ep56: Hidden unemployment in India from 2021-09-15T07:00

In rural areas, about half of people who are available for work are not in full-time employment. Most are self-employed. Are they really entrepreneurs, or would they prefer a job and are they ...

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S1 Ep56: Hidden unemployment in India from 2021-09-15T07:00

In rural areas, about half of people who are available for work are not in full-time employment. Most are self-employed. Are they really entrepreneurs, or would they prefer a job and are they ...

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S1 Ep54: Is financial literacy necessary? from 2021-09-13T09:00

We often try to improve incomes and financial decision-making of working people by teaching financial literacy. But in Uganda an intervention tested whether learning by saving in a bank accoun...

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S1 Ep54: Is financial literacy necessary? from 2021-09-13T09:00

We often try to improve incomes and financial decision-making of working people by teaching financial literacy. But in Uganda an intervention tested whether learning by saving in a bank accoun...

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S1 Ep53: Slippery fish from 2021-09-10T09:00

When the government in Chile attempts to limit which fish can be caught and sold to protect stocks, market traders always find a way around the restrictions. Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak tells Tim Ph...

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S1 Ep53: Slippery fish from 2021-09-10T09:00

When the government in Chile attempts to limit which fish can be caught and sold to protect stocks, market traders always find a way around the restrictions. Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak tells Tim Ph...

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S1 Ep52: Using role models in Somali schools from 2021-09-08T10:00

How can Somalia's schools inspire kids to finish their education and learn about gender equality? A low-cost intervention uses role models with surprising success, says Munshi Sulaiman of BRAC...

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S1 Ep52: Using role models in Somali schools from 2021-09-08T10:00

How can Somalia's schools inspire kids to finish their education and learn about gender equality? A low-cost intervention uses role models with surprising success, says Munshi Sulaiman of BRAC...

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S1 Ep51: The effects of crime on jobs in Mexico from 2021-09-06T11:00

When drug-related violence exploded in Mexico, its effects were felt by everyone. Andrea Velásquez tells Tim Phillips how rising violence in Mexico City affected the willingness of people - es...

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S1 Ep51: The effects of crime on jobs in Mexico from 2021-09-06T11:00

When drug-related violence exploded in Mexico, its effects were felt by everyone. Andrea Velásquez tells Tim Phillips how rising violence in Mexico City affected the willingness of people - es...

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S1 Ep50: Reshaping gender attitudes in India from 2021-09-03T11:00

Children decide what's normal for girls and boys early in their development. Seema Jayachandran tells Tim Phillips how a program of discussions about gender equality at school can successfully...

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S1 Ep50: Reshaping gender attitudes in India from 2021-09-03T11:00

Children decide what's normal for girls and boys early in their development. Seema Jayachandran tells Tim Phillips how a program of discussions about gender equality at school can successfully...

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S1 Ep49: Letting managers manage from 2021-09-01T09:00

If you want to succeed as a boss, business books tell you, you have to delegate. But we know less than you think about the impact of delegation on productivity and profitability. Namrata Kala ...

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S1 Ep49: Letting managers manage from 2021-09-01T09:00

If you want to succeed as a boss, business books tell you, you have to delegate. But we know less than you think about the impact of delegation on productivity and profitability. Namrata Kala ...

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S1 Ep48: The false promises of agricultural trials from 2021-08-30T11:00

Often we hear exciting news of crop yields from experimental trials, but then the gains don't show up in the real world. Rachid Laajaj tells Tim Phillips how a group of researchers solved this...

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S1 Ep48: The false promises of agricultural trials from 2021-08-30T11:00

Often we hear exciting news of crop yields from experimental trials, but then the gains don't show up in the real world. Rachid Laajaj tells Tim Phillips how a group of researchers solved this...

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S1 Ep47: Public disclosure as a political incentive: Evidence from municipal elections in India from 2021-02-24T12:25

Councilors who thought performance reports would be published before an election invested more in infrastructure, with positive impacts on re-election
Read “Public Information is a...
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S1 Ep47: Public disclosure as a political incentive: Evidence from municipal elections in India from 2021-02-24T12:25

Councilors who thought performance reports would be published before an election invested more in infrastructure, with positive impacts on re-election

Read “Public Information ...
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S1 Ep47: The unintended impacts of formal credit programmes on social networks: Evidence from India from 2021-02-17T12:22

The introduction of financial institutions in communities may generate long-lasting externalities, including losses in informal social linkages
Read “Changes in social network stru...
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S1 Ep47: The unintended impacts of formal credit programmes on social networks: Evidence from India from 2021-02-17T12:22

The introduction of financial institutions in communities may generate long-lasting externalities, including losses in informal social linkages

Read “Changes in social network ...
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S1 Ep47: Learning-by-doing: Navigating financial technologies among Bangladeshi factory workers from 2021-02-02T12:18

How automatic payments can help individuals save more and better protect themselves against consumer risks
Read “Learning to navigate a new financial technology: Evidence from payroll acco...
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S1 Ep47: Learning-by-doing: Navigating financial technologies among Bangladeshi factory workers from 2021-02-02T12:18

How automatic payments can help individuals save more and better protect themselves against consumer risks

Read “Learning to navigate a new financial technology: Evidence from payroll ...
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S1 Ep47: Is faster always better? Evidence from Mexico’s digital credit market from 2021-02-01T12:14

Access to fast cash through digital credit may put consumers at risk for over-indebtedness and likelihood of default
Read “Too fast, too furious? Digital credit delivery speed and ...
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S1 Ep47: Is faster always better? Evidence from Mexico’s digital credit market from 2021-02-01T12:14

Access to fast cash through digital credit may put consumers at risk for over-indebtedness and likelihood of default

Read “Too fast, too furious? Digital credit delivery speed ...
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S1 Ep46: Designing more effective interventions to prevent childhood stunting: Evidence from Nigeria from 2021-01-27T16:50

Bundling interventions that offer parents health information along with cash transfers might yield more sustainable changes in early-life health outcomes for children

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S1 Ep46: Designing more effective interventions to prevent childhood stunting: Evidence from Nigeria from 2021-01-27T16:50

Bundling interventions that offer parents health information along with cash transfers might yield more sustainable changes in early-life health outcomes for children
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S1 Ep47: Designing more effective interventions to prevent childhood stunting: Evidence from Nigeria from 2021-01-27T12:12

Bundling interventions that offer parents health information along with cash transfers might yield more sustainable changes in early-life health outcomes for children
Read “The imp...
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S1 Ep47: Designing more effective interventions to prevent childhood stunting: Evidence from Nigeria from 2021-01-27T12:12

Bundling interventions that offer parents health information along with cash transfers might yield more sustainable changes in early-life health outcomes for children

Read “The...
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S1 Ep46: Urban-rural gaps in the developing world: Does internal migration offer opportunities? from 2021-01-20T17:18

Policymakers might seek to address the frictions that prevent potentially beneficial migration to urban areas from taking place

Read “Urban-Rural Gaps in the Developing World: ...
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S1 Ep46: Urban-rural gaps in the developing world: Does internal migration offer opportunities? from 2021-01-20T17:18

Policymakers might seek to address the frictions that prevent potentially beneficial migration to urban areas from taking place
Read “Urban-Rural Gaps in the Developing World: Does...
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S1 Ep46: Unintended consequences: How workfare programmes may fuel school dropouts in India from 2021-01-13T17:15

Workfare schemes, designed as an alternative to more traditional social benefit programmes, are increasingly popular in developing countries. India’s National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NRE...
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S1 Ep46: Unintended consequences: How workfare programmes may fuel school dropouts in India from 2021-01-13T17:15

Despite evidence of increasing household wages, anti-poverty schemes in India can have an adverse effect by lowering human capital investment
Read “Workfare and Human Capital Inves...
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S1 Ep46: How does shame and embarrassment impact social learning? Evidence from India from 2021-01-06T17:11

Social learning is an important part of how people gain knowledge to inform their decisions. Seeking new information from one’s networks or peers can, however, be inhibited by feelings of shame or ...
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S1 Ep46: How does shame and embarrassment impact social learning? Evidence from India from 2021-01-06T17:11

People are less likely to ask questions in their communities if it exposes the limits of their knowledge.
Read “Signaling, shame, and silence in social learning” by Arun G. Chandra...
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S1 Ep46: Failure of frequent assessment: Evidence from India’s continuous and comprehensive evaluation programme from 2020-12-08T16:49

Continuous assessment programmes, which emphasise frequent evaluation over infrequent, high-stakes testing, are an increasingly popular way to improve student learning outcomes. In this VoxDevTalk,...
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S1 Ep46: Failure of frequent assessment: Evidence from India’s continuous and comprehensive evaluation programme from 2020-12-08T16:49

More frequent assessment of student performance fails to deliver on improved outcomes when the administrative burden on teachers is high
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S1 Ep45: Should electricity be a right? Evidence from India from 2020-11-25T11:35

A social norm in which people deserve access to electricity regardless of payment may actually be undermining efforts for universal access
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S1 Ep45: Should electricity be a right? Evidence from India from 2020-11-25T11:35

Nearly a billion people around the world are not connected to the electricity grid, and even more have unreliable access. In this VoxDevTalk, Robin Burgess discusses his paper with Michael Gre...
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S1 Ep45: Technology as a tool for governance: Evidence from China from 2020-11-11T11:32

Technology can help governments monitor agent actions more efficiently and improve public welfare
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S1 Ep45: Technology as a tool for governance: Evidence from China from 2020-11-11T11:32

Incentivising agent performance is a double-edged sword: while it can encourage agents to perform better, it might also nudge them into cheating and manipulating results to their benefit. In t...
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S1 Ep45: How does funding influence sectoral and geographic spread of NGOs? from 2020-11-04T11:30

NGOs compete for donor attention and funding; this can influence what they choose to focus on and lead to clustering around more attractive projects.
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S1 Ep45: How does funding influence sectoral and geographic spread of NGOs? from 2020-11-04T11:30

Certain kinds of NGO-led development projects attract more funding and media attention than others. Child sponsorship or microcredit schemes, for instance, tend to be 'hotter' than rehabilitat...
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S1 Ep45: Gender norms, rule of law, and female entrepreneurship in developing countries from 2020-10-28T11:17

Unless you have both relatively equal gender laws and decent rule of law, female entrepreneurship is very low
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S1 Ep45: Gender norms, rule of law, and female entrepreneurship in developing countries from 2020-10-28T11:17

Entrepreneurship across the world is highly male dominated. While the amount of subsistence entrepreneurship in developing countries leads to a slightly more equal gender balance, female entre...
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S1 Ep45: The selection of talent: Experimental and structural evidence from Ethiopia from 2020-10-21T10:14

Financial incentives for job applicants can help firms attract high-quality candidates and also encourage those from disadvantaged backgrounds to apply
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S1 Ep45: The selection of talent: Experimental and structural evidence from Ethiopia from 2020-10-21T10:14

When faced with onerous procedures to apply for a job, potential applicants can be expected to weigh the costs of applying on their time and energy against the probability of their getting the...
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S1 Ep45: Paying outsourced labour: Evidence from Argentina from 2020-10-14T10:10

Temp agency workers in Argentina receive 49% of the workplace-specific pay premia earned by regular workers in user firms
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S1 Ep45: Paying outsourced labour: Evidence from Argentina from 2020-10-14T10:10

When workers are supplied to a company through a temp agency, they earn less than the permanent employees they end up working with. Since work place surveys usually do not capture the pay of o...
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S1 Ep45: Incentivising behavioural change: The role of time preferences from 2020-10-07T10:08

Bundling payment incentives over time is more effective in increasing effort among the impatient, relative to increasing payment frequency
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S1 Ep45: Incentivising behavioural change: The role of time preferences from 2020-10-07T10:08

Incentivising people to lead healthier lives by means of monetary payments is a simple and cost-effective intervention, but are there ways to tweak that basic incentive contract to make it wor...
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S1 Ep45: Do social structures affect the success of development policies? from 2020-09-23T10:03

Policy delivery agents perform better when working with members of their own social groups thereby affecting the efficiency of policy interventions
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S1 Ep45: Do social structures affect the success of development policies? from 2020-09-23T10:03

Relationships between groups are vital in village economies, but do these social structures affect the success of development policies? If resources are delivered by someone from the community...
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S1 Ep45: Negotiating a better future: Experimental evidence from Zambia from 2020-09-02T10:02

Can we increase girls’ educational outcomes through endowing them with negotiation skills?
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S1 Ep45: Negotiating a better future: Experimental evidence from Zambia from 2020-09-02T10:02

Across the developing world, many girls face difficulties in persuading their parents to enrol them in secondary education. Whilst financial incentives have often been analysed as a means to e...
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S1 Ep45: Cities in the developing world from 2020-08-26T09:59

Should development economists focus more on analysis of cities?
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S1 Ep45: Cities in the developing world from 2020-08-26T09:59

By 2050, the world’s urban population is estimated to reach nearly seven billion, driven mainly by urbanisation in developing countries. Despite this growth, development economists have often ...
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S1 Ep45: Breaking down access constraints faced by women: Experimental evidence from Pakistan from 2020-08-12T09:58

How can policymakers ensure high take-up rates for programmes designed to increase women’s economic empowerment?
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S1 Ep45: Breaking down access constraints faced by women: Experimental evidence from Pakistan from 2020-08-12T09:58

Across the world, women face invisible barriers that prevent them from taking up education and work. This is particularly the case in conservative societies such as in Punjab, Pakistan. In thi...
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S1 Ep44: Pipe dreams: Enforcing payment for water and sanitation services in Kenya from 2020-08-05T13:13

Editors’ note: This podcast was updated on 25.08.2020

How can policymakers solve the problem of non-payment of utility bills while still maintaining access to water and ...
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S1 Ep44: Pipe dreams: Enforcing payment for water and sanitation services in Kenya from 2020-08-05T13:13

Editors’ note: This podcast was updated on 25.08.2020
How can policymakers solve the problem of non-payment of utility bills while still maintaining access to water and sanitati...
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S1 Ep44: Trade in developing economies from 2020-07-29T13:11

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 o...
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S1 Ep44: Trade in developing economies from 2020-07-29T13:11

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...
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S1 Ep43: Inclusive growth dividend: Reframing the role of income transfers in India from 2020-07-15T07:55:29

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 Mu...
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S1 Ep43: Inclusive growth dividend: Reframing the role of income transfers in India from 2020-07-15T07:55:29

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 Mu...
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S1 Ep43: Does vocational educational training work? Experimental evidence from Mongolia from 2020-07-08T07:53

Existing economic literature has suggested that vocational training does not improve labour market outcomes for young people in developing countries. And yet, this might not necessarily be the case...
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S1 Ep43: Does vocational educational training work? Experimental evidence from Mongolia from 2020-07-08T07:53

Can investments in vocational training, contrary to the existing research literature, actually improve labour market outcomes?
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S1 Ep42: Reducing rates of child marriage: Experimental evidence from Bangladesh from 2020-07-01T07:50

Intuitively, we would assume that improving women’s economic empowerment would put downward pressure on the rates of child marriage. And yet in Bangladesh, this has not been the case. In this VoxDe...
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S1 Ep42: Reducing rates of child marriage: Experimental evidence from Bangladesh from 2020-07-01T07:50

Why do we still see high rates of child marriage in settings such as Bangladesh, despite significant improvements in women’s economic empowerment?
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S1 Ep42: Poverty and depression: How improving mental health can help economic wellbeing from 2020-06-17T07:47

Across the world, countries under spend on mental health. This disparity is worse in developing countries owing to lower overall healthcare budgets and a higher burden of other health conditions. I...
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S1 Ep42: Poverty and depression: How improving mental health can help economic wellbeing from 2020-06-17T07:47

How do poor mental health and poverty interact, and how can we best ensure access to mental health services?
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S1 Ep41: Incentivising bureaucrats through performance-based postings: Experimental evidence from Pakistan from 2020-06-10T11:29

Across much of the developing world, supervisors use posting locations to incentivise bureaucrats. Yet, this is often done informally, raising concerns over transparency and the impartiality of sup...
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S1 Ep41: Incentivising bureaucrats through performance-based postings: Experimental evidence from Pakistan from 2020-06-10T11:29

How can we best incentivise bureaucrats in a formal manner that avoids concerns over corruption?
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S1 Ep40: Social learning in agriculture: Experimental evidence from Malawi from 2020-06-03T11:27

Learning from people one trusts is a crucial way in which ideas travel across much of the developing world. However, harnessing this type of social learning to improve the lives of citizens remains...
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S1 Ep40: Social learning in agriculture: Experimental evidence from Malawi from 2020-06-03T11:27

Can policymakers speed up the adoption of modern agricultural technologies through peer-to-peer learning?
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S1 Ep39: Does household electrification supercharge economic development? from 2020-05-27T11:25

UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) seven targets access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all. At the country level we see a clear correlation between access to electri...
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S1 Ep39: Does household electrification supercharge economic development? from 2020-05-27T11:25

To what extent do the poorest rural households in sub-Saharan Africa benefit from residential electrification investments?
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S1 Ep38: Cash transfers and the wider economy: Evidence from Kenya from 2020-05-20T11:23

Development economists and policymakers frequently compare the benefits and costs of conditional versus unconditional cash transfers. In this VoxDev talk, Dennis Egger discusses an experiment in wh...
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S1 Ep38: Cash transfers and the wider economy: Evidence from Kenya from 2020-05-20T11:23

Do unconditional cash transfers increase welfare in communities as a whole, even within households that do not receive them?
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S1 Ep37: How to protect the poor in the time of COVID-19? from 2020-05-06T11:21

In locking down large segments of society, governments across the world have a responsibility to support the poorest and most vulnerable. This applies to both developed and developing countries ali...
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S1 Ep37: How to protect the poor in the time of COVID-19? from 2020-05-06T11:21

How can governments in developing countries best ensure widespread and effective social protection in light of the COVID-19 pandemic?
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S1 Ep36: Cushioning the effects of COVID-19 on the poor from 2020-04-29T11:19

The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the world’s most vulnerable into further hardship. Social distancing has meant that many in the developing world have seen their sources of income evaporate. In thi...
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S1 Ep36: Cushioning the effects of COVID-19 on the poor from 2020-04-29T11:19

How can we best protect the most vulnerable in the developing world during the COVID-19 pandemic?
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S1 Ep35: Migration and risk sharing: Evidence from Bangladesh from 2020-04-15T11:16

Rural to urban migration can improve the allocation of labour as rural workers migrate to the city where there are greater job opportunities. Yet, there has been little focus on the impact of this ...
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S1 Ep35: Migration and risk sharing: Evidence from Bangladesh from 2020-04-15T11:16

Whilst rural to urban migration can improve the allocation of labour, can it have unintended consequences on risk sharing in rural communities?
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S1 Ep35: Alcohol and self-control: Evidence from India from 2020-04-08T11:10

In many developing countries, males in low-income jobs consume a lot of alcohol, which is bad news for them personally and also for their families; it makes them less productive at work, less able ...
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S1 Ep35: Alcohol and self-control: Evidence from India from 2020-04-08T11:10

Rickshaw drivers in India who randomly received sobriety incentives as part of an experiment significantly reduced their daytime drinking
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S1 Ep34: Alleviating financial strain to drive productivity: Evidence from India from 2020-04-01T11:08

The mental strain of living in poverty undoubtedly causes a significant psychological load on the poor. Yet, policymakers and academics have often neglected the effect of such stress as a source of...
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S1 Ep34: Alleviating financial strain to drive productivity: Evidence from India from 2020-04-01T11:08

Does easing the financial stress of short-term workers by paying them earlier lead to productivity improvements?
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S1 Ep33: Increasing sleep for the urban poor: Evidence from India from 2020-03-25T11:40:07

Many researchers have suggested that increased sleep at night translates into improved working outcomes, such as higher productivity. But while these researchers have often focused on setting...
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S1 Ep33: Increasing sleep for the urban poor: Evidence from India from 2020-03-25T11:40:07

Many researchers have suggested that increased sleep at night translates into improved working outcomes, such as higher productivity. But while these researchers have often focused on setting...
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S1 Ep32: Taxation, civic culture and state capacity from 2020-01-08T08:37:25

Why do some countries have high rates of taxation and high compliance, while some failed states have neither?

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S1 Ep32: Taxation, civic culture and state capacity from 2020-01-08T08:37:25

Why do some countries have high rates of taxation and high compliance, while some failed states have neither?
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S1 Ep31: Mexico’s economic growth puzzle: A conversation with Santiago Levy from 2019-12-04T08:41:53

Why has economic growth stuttered in Mexico despite, on the face of it, implementation of sensible economic policies by successive governments?

Since the ...
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S1 Ep31: Mexico’s economic growth puzzle: A conversation with Santiago Levy from 2019-12-04T08:41:53

Why has economic growth stuttered in Mexico despite, on the face of it, implementation of sensible economic policies by successive governments?

Since the 1990s, Mexican g...
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S1 Ep30: Multinational enforcement of labour laws: Evidence from Bangladesh from 2019-10-23T10:50

Can multinational buyers provide their suppliers in developing countries with incentives to comply with local labour laws?
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S1 Ep30: Multinational enforcement of labour laws: Evidence from Bangladesh from 2019-10-23T10:50

Some multinationals privately enforce labour standards among their suppliers in developing countries. But is this effective, and does it complement or replace other ways to improve working con...
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S1 Ep29: Lessons from Mexico’s poverty reduction programme from 2019-10-09T10:48

Why has the success of Mexico’s poverty reduction programme not been matched by similar programmes in other countries?
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S1 Ep29: Lessons from Mexico’s poverty reduction programme from 2019-10-09T10:48

In Mexico in 1996, the extreme poverty rate had climbed above 30%, prompting the government to introduce a poverty reduction programme called Progresa, which turned the conventional wisdom on ...
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S1 Ep28: Does research translate into policy? Evidence from Brazilian municipalities from 2019-10-02T10:45

How much do political leaders value academic research? Can this research change not only their beliefs, but also the policies they implement?
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S1 Ep28: Does research translate into policy? Evidence from Brazilian municipalities from 2019-10-02T10:45

Social science research seeks to improve the world we live in. Yet, there is little information on how much political leaders actually value this research when making policy decisions. In this...
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S1 Ep27: The future of the World Bank: Why knowledge is power from 2019-09-11T10:43

The World Bank is making a shift from a lending function to a knowledge function. This will amplify the role of researchers in its work.
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S1 Ep27: The future of the World Bank: Why knowledge is power from 2019-09-11T10:43

Penny Goldberg is the World Bank’s Chief Economist. This means she manages the research department and is in charge of the research agenda. The World Bank has to continuously evolve to meet it...
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S1 Ep26: The changing face of development: Backlash against globalisation from 2019-06-25T09:00

On our two year anniversary we asked a few experts to reflect over the last two years of development economics and discuss what they think have been the most important challenges and new evide...
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S1 Ep25: The changing face of development: The elite capture of democracy from 2019-06-25T09:00

On our two year anniversary we asked a few experts to reflect over the last two years of development economics and discuss what they think have been the most important challenges and new evide...
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S1 Ep24: The changing face of development: The gap between macroeconomic policy and research from 2019-06-25T09:00

On our two year anniversary we asked a few experts to reflect over the last two years of development economics and discuss what they think have been the most important challenges and new evide...
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S1 Ep26: The changing face of development: Backlash against globalisation from 2019-06-25T09:00

On our two year anniversary we asked a few experts to reflect over the last two years of development economics and discuss what they think have been the most important challenges and new evide...
Listen

S1 Ep25: The changing face of development: The elite capture of democracy from 2019-06-25T09:00

On our two year anniversary we asked a few experts to reflect over the last two years of development economics and discuss what they think have been the most important challenges and new evide...
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S1 Ep24: The changing face of development: The gap between macroeconomic policy and research from 2019-06-25T09:00

On our two year anniversary we asked a few experts to reflect over the last two years of development economics and discuss what they think have been the most important challenges and new evide...
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S1 Ep23: Ending global poverty: Why money is not enough from 2019-06-07T13:48:44

The world continues to see high poverty in middle-income countries. In this VoxDev talk, Rohini Pande discusses how invisible infrastructure is the necessary compliment required for the poor to acc...
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S1 Ep23: Ending global poverty: Why money is not enough from 2019-06-07T13:48:44

How can we combat the increasing trend that extreme poverty is not only confined to low-income countries, but also to middle-income ones?
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S1 Ep22: Power to the people: The impact of political report cards in India from 2019-05-22T08:43

Abhijit Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, MIT, talks to Tim Phillips about the run-up to 2011 elections in Delhi, India, where residents in a random sample of slums...
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S1 Ep22: Power to the people: The impact of political report cards in India from 2019-05-22T08:43

Abhijit Banerjee, Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics, MIT, talks to Tim Phillips about the run-up to 2011 elections in Delhi, India, where residents in a random sample of slums...
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S1 Ep21: Where are the Indian female politicians? from 2019-05-17T08:30

Evidence shows that when more women are elected, it changes broader development outcomes due to their differing priorities. Yet women are almost unrepresented in parliaments around the world. In th...
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S1 Ep21: Where are the Indian female politicians? from 2019-05-17T08:30

Evidence shows that when more women are elected, it changes broader development outcomes due to their differing priorities. Yet women are almost unrepresented in parliaments around the world. In...
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S1 Ep20: Technology transfer and the rise of China from 2019-05-08T08:00

Who wins and losses in the technology trade war? John van Reenen (MIT) explains to Tim Phillips why technology transfer in a globalised world isn’t a zero sum game.

Resistance to technol...
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S1 Ep20: Technology transfer and the rise of China from 2019-05-08T08:00

Who wins and losses in the technology trade war? John van Reenen (MIT) explains to Tim Phillips why technology transfer in a globalised world isn’t a zero sum game.

Resistance to techno...
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S1 Ep19: Why studies should be conducted on a larger scale from 2018-10-16T14:32:25

Karthik Muralidharan and Paul Niehaus of University of California, San Diego, argue that when we test things at a small scale, they might not be predictive of how they perform at a larger scale. Listen

S1 Ep19: Why studies should be conducted on a larger scale from 2018-10-16T14:32:25

Karthik Muralidharan and Paul Niehaus of University of California, San Diego, argue that when we test things at a small scale, they might not be predictive of how they perform at a larger scale....
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S1 Ep19: Breaking gender-barriers: How women are becoming managers from 2018-10-16T14:32:21

How do we get more women in senior positions? Chris Woodruff shares insights from the Bangladeshi garment industry.

Find out more at [VoxDev.org](https://voxdev.org/topic/firms-trade/break...
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S1 Ep19: Breaking gender-barriers: How women are becoming managers from 2018-10-16T14:32:21

How do we get more women in senior positions? Chris Woodruff shares insights from the Bangladeshi garment industry.

Find out more at Listen

S1 Ep18: Evidence to practice: Time to bridge the gap from 2018-10-16T14:27:40

VoxDev's own Editor-in-Chief, Tavneet Suri, drawing insights from her work at J-PAL and VoxDev, emphasises the importance of researchers deeply engaging with, as well effectively communicating the ...
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S1 Ep18: Evidence to practice: Time to bridge the gap from 2018-10-16T14:27:40

VoxDev's own Editor-in-Chief, Tavneet Suri, drawing insights from her work at J-PAL and VoxDev, emphasises the importance of researchers deeply engaging with, as well effectively communicating t...
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S1 Ep17: Evidence to practice: Reforming private healthcare in India from 2018-10-16T14:21:15

Using the example of healthcare in India, Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, CDC, discusses how data plays a crucial role in making sure investments are put to their best use.

Find o...
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S1 Ep17: Evidence to practice: Reforming private healthcare in India from 2018-10-16T14:21:15

Using the example of healthcare in India, Nick O’Donohoe, Chief Executive Officer, CDC, discusses how data plays a crucial role in making sure investments are put to their best use.

Fin...
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S1 Ep16: Achieving inclusive growth in Asia from 2018-10-16T14:18:38

Yasuyuki Sawada, ADB’s Chief Economist, provides insight into Asia’s development and overcoming the middle-income trap.

Find out more at [VoxDev.org](https://voxdev.org/topic/macroeconom...
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S1 Ep16: Achieving inclusive growth in Asia from 2018-10-16T14:18:38

Yasuyuki Sawada, ADB’s Chief Economist, provides insight into Asia’s development and overcoming the middle-income trap.

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S1 Ep15: Evidence to practice: Unintended consequences in the absence of data from 2018-10-16T14:16:38

Rodger Voorhies, Executive Director of Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shares a first-hand account of the importance of empirical analysis for development practitioners
...
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S1 Ep15: Evidence to practice: Unintended consequences in the absence of data from 2018-10-16T14:16:38

Rodger Voorhies, Executive Director of Global Development, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, shares a first-hand account of the importance of empirical analysis for development practitioners...
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S1 Ep46: The political economy of donor funding: Insights from USAID from 2018-09-12T16:02

USAID is one of the world’s leading donors with an annual budget of US $27 billion. In this interview, Louise Fox, Chief Economist at USAID, discusses how aid priorities are set, the political econ...
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S1 Ep46: The political economy of donor funding: Insights from USAID from 2018-09-12T16:02

How does USAID decide how and where to channel its efforts?
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S1 Ep14: Is aid effective? from 2018-09-08T17:52:46

Development aid by its very nature is provided in messy environments, is often very political and has inherent negative incentives. In such situations, often exacerbated by limited data and imminen...
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S1 Ep14: Is aid effective? from 2018-09-08T17:52:46

Development aid by its very nature is provided in messy environments, is often very political and has inherent negative incentives. In such situations, often exacerbated by limited data and immi...
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S1 Ep13: Ideas for development from 2018-09-08T17:50:52

In this interview, **Robin Burgess** discusses three ideas to foster socioeconomic development. First, he discusses how important the quality of civil servants is to development, and his work study...
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S1 Ep13: Ideas for development from 2018-09-08T17:50:52

In this interview, Robin Burgess discusses three ideas to foster socioeconomic development. First, he discusses how important the quality of civil servants is to development, an...
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S1 Ep12: Achieving meaningful impact through aid from 2018-09-08T17:49:17

**Rachel Glennerster** discusses her role at DFID, her work on promoting electoral debates in Sierra Leone, the importance of strengthening local institutions, and the challenges of measuring the s...
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S1 Ep12: Achieving meaningful impact through aid from 2018-09-08T17:49:17

Rachel Glennerster discusses her role at DFID, her work on promoting electoral debates in Sierra Leone, the importance of strengthening local institutions, and the challenges of...
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S1 Ep11: Tackling food insecurity from 2018-09-08T17:47:56

We lose about 5% of global GDP due to hunger related diseases, and the situation is getting worse with the number of people living in food insecurity increasing. Yet one-third of all food produced ...
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S1 Ep11: Tackling food insecurity from 2018-09-08T17:47:56

We lose about 5% of global GDP due to hunger related diseases, and the situation is getting worse with the number of people living in food insecurity increasing. Yet one-third of all food produc...
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S1 Ep9: Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals from 2018-09-08T17:32:35

The sustainable development goals have ushered in a new development paradigm. In this interview, **Elliott Harris** discusses the vision behind the creation of the SDGs and how it differs from that...
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S1 Ep9: Meeting the Sustainable Development Goals from 2018-09-08T17:32:35

The sustainable development goals have ushered in a new development paradigm. In this interview, Elliott Harris discusses the vision behind the creation of the SDGs and how it d...
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S1 Ep8: The effects of pay inequality from 2018-09-08T17:28:57

The idea that worker utility is affected by co-worker wages has potentially broad labour market implications. In a month-long experiment with Indian manufacturing workers, in her work with Emily Br...
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S1 Ep8: The effects of pay inequality from 2018-09-08T17:28:57

The idea that worker utility is affected by co-worker wages has potentially broad labour market implications. In a month-long experiment with Indian manufacturing workers, in her work with Emily...
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S1 Ep7: What is holding firms back? from 2018-09-08T17:23:48

Chris Woodruff discusses the role management practices play in firm growth. Further, he explores different mechanisms for improving firm management in varying contexts across developing countries.<...
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S1 Ep7: What is holding firms back? from 2018-09-08T17:23:48

Chris Woodruff discusses the role management practices play in firm growth. Further, he explores different mechanisms for improving firm management in varying contexts across developing countrie...
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S1 Ep6: Globalisation and development from 2018-09-08T17:21:38

**David Atkin** explains why he thinks that globalisation has brought huge benefit to developing countries in terms of expanding their manufacturing sectors and introducing them to new technologies...
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S1 Ep6: Globalisation and development from 2018-09-08T17:21:38

David Atkin explains why he thinks that globalisation has brought huge benefit to developing countries in terms of expanding their manufacturing sectors and introducing them to ...
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S1 Ep5: Childcare and development from 2018-09-08T17:20:05

Drawing on lessons from Colombia and India, **Orazio Attanasio** of UCL discusses the roles, pre-existing welfare programmes' infrastructure, and parental behaviour play in effective delivery of ea...
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S1 Ep5: Childcare and development from 2018-09-08T17:20:05

Drawing on lessons from Colombia and India, Orazio Attanasio of UCL discusses the roles, pre-existing welfare programmes' infrastructure, and parental behaviour play in effectiv...
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S1 Ep4: If she builds it, they won’t come: The gender profit gap from 2018-09-08T17:03:22

Male-owned firms earn nearly twice as much profit as female-owned firms. This difference is driven by a variance in the quantity of garments sold, rather than prices charged or costs incurred. Usin...
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S1 Ep4: If she builds it, they won’t come: The gender profit gap from 2018-09-08T17:03:22

Male-owned firms earn nearly twice as much profit as female-owned firms. This difference is driven by a variance in the quantity of garments sold, rather than prices charged or costs incurred. U...
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S1 Ep3: Productivity and energy-saving technology from 2018-09-08T17:00:57

How can we increase output per worker in countries like India and China where it is particularly low? Anant Nyshadham discusses one way to do so: by improving the physical work environment. When ga...
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S1 Ep3: Productivity and energy-saving technology from 2018-09-08T17:00:57

How can we increase output per worker in countries like India and China where it is particularly low? Anant Nyshadham discusses one way to do so: by improving the physical work environment. When...
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S1 Ep2: Building a functional state in difficult places from 2018-09-08T16:47:34

Building state functionality is difficult, and particularly so in fragile environments marred by weak institutions and political instability. Eliana La Ferrara discusses four methods to overcome th...
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S1 Ep2: Building a functional state in difficult places from 2018-09-08T16:47:34

Building state functionality is difficult, and particularly so in fragile environments marred by weak institutions and political instability. Eliana La Ferrara discusses four methods to overcome...
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S1 Ep1: Building effective and functioning cities from 2018-09-08T16:46:26

Ed Glaeser explains why cities are the best pathway to prosperity and outlines three lessons from over 30 years of economics research on urbanisation.

This [VoxDev Talk](https://voxdev.o...
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S1 Ep1: Building effective and functioning cities from 2018-09-08T16:46:26

Ed Glaeser explains why cities are the best pathway to prosperity and outlines three lessons from over 30 years of economics research on urbanisation.

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S1 Ep1: Harnessing FDI in Africa from 2018-09-08T16:44:16

The narrative around Africa has changed over the last decade with it now being heralded as the economic powerhouse of the future. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have laid a solid foundation t...
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S1 Ep1: Harnessing FDI in Africa from 2018-09-08T16:44:16

The narrative around Africa has changed over the last decade with it now being heralded as the economic powerhouse of the future. Many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa have laid a solid foundatio...
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S1 Ep2: The backlash against globalisation from 2018-09-08T16:41:31

John Van Reenen, Professor at MIT Department of Economics and Sloan School of Management, gives a brief explanation of the ways that the current backlash against globalisation emerging in Western c...
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S1 Ep2: The backlash against globalisation from 2018-09-08T16:41:31

John Van Reenen, Professor at MIT Department of Economics and Sloan School of Management, gives a brief explanation of the ways that the current backlash against globalisation emerging in Wester...
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S1 Ep1: Paving a path to financial well-being from 2018-08-27T09:00

Tavneet Suri tells Tim Phillips about the rise of digital credit in Kenya. Who receives digital loans? What the loans are used for? How do they affects the lives of Kenyan people?

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S1 Ep1: Paving a path to financial well-being from 2018-08-27T09:00

Tavneet Suri tells Tim Phillips about the rise of digital credit in Kenya. Who receives digital loans? What the loans are used for? How do they affects the lives of Kenyan people?

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