Articles

VoxDev Articles

VoxDev articles feature development economics research that has been reviewed by our expert Editorial Board. All of our articles use accessible language, and focus on key takeaways and policy implications.

Most Popular Articles in 2025

The ‘missing intercept’ problem with going from micro to macro

Many applied microeconomics papers conclude with a back-of-the-envelope calculation that scales their cross-sectional estimates to the aggregate level. These types of aggregate estimates are only valid under very strong assumptions due to the ‘missin...

Methods & Measurement

Benjamin Moll Oliver Hanney

Published 09.09.25

Electronic waste is a silent killer in West Africa

Evidence from Ghana and Nigeria shows that e-waste dumping is causing a health crisis, claiming the lives of newborns and infants living nearby.

Health

Stefania Lovo Sam Rawlings

Published 03.02.25

What broad lessons have we learned from 115 studies on unconditional cash transfers?

A meta-analysis of 115 studies shows that unconditional cash transfers have positive impacts on a range of key economic and social outcomes, including consumption, income, labour supply, and child health and education. Around 700 million people curre...

Social Protection

Tommaso Crosta Dean Karlan Finley Ong Julius Ruschenpohler Christopher Udry

Published 16.05.25

Polygyny and the economic determinants of family formation outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa

Changing economic conditions have differing impacts on women’s marital outcomes and family formation in polygynous vs non-polygynous areas

Institutions & Political Economy

Augustin Tapsoba

Published

13.02.23

International spillover effects of air pollution: Evidence from mortality and health data

Air pollution in China has significant negative effects on mortality and morbidity in South Korea, and accounting for this amplifies the overall benefits of environmental regulation

Energy & Environment

Seonmin (Will) Heo Koichiro Ito Rao Kotamarthi

Published

10.02.23

Can geography explain agricultural productivity differences across countries?

Low agricultural productivity in developing countries is not destiny, as there is remarkable potential for raising crop yields given their land quality

Agriculture

Tasso Adamopoulos Diego Restuccia

Published

07.02.23

School internet access improved student learning in Peru…but it took time!

School-based internet access boosted test scores in Peru, but these effects took time to materialise

Education

Leah Lakdawala Eduardo Nakasone

Published

06.02.23

The long-run effect of public works employment: Evidence from Tunisia

Public works employment in Tunisia has large, positive effects for both directly targeted individuals and their neighbours in the short-term, which mostly disappear five years post-programme

Labour Markets

Jessica Leight Eric Mvukiyehe

Published

03.02.23

Job losses, unemployment benefits and domestic violence: Evidence from Brazil

Job losses, through reduced income and increased exposure, lead to substantial increases in domestic violence against women which are not mitigated by unemployment benefits

Labour Markets

Sonia Bhalotra Diogo Britto Paolo Pinotti Breno Sampaio

Published

02.02.23

Removing local barriers to entry can boost productivity growth: Evidence from Peru

Removing local barriers to entry can be a cost-efficient way to boost aggregate productivity growth in developing countries

Firms

James Sampi Marc Schiffbauer Javier Coronado

Published

31.01.23

How import competition can increase quality upgrading and exporting: Evidence from Peru

Trade-induced competition on final goods drove firms in the Peruvian apparel industry to upgrade the quality of their products and export more

Firms

Pamela Medina

Published

30.01.23

Creative destruction and catch-up growth in India

Selectively supporting transformative firms is a viable strategy to promote growth where there is less creative destruction

Firms

Michael Peters Fabrizio Zilibotti

Published

27.01.23

Supported by

Who gained from India’s IT boom?

When an entire country loses access to fertiliser: Evidence from Sri Lanka's import ban

Decentralising development: The economic effects of government splits

Overburdened bureaucrats, not corruption, are delaying public benefits in India

VoxDev Articles

Most Popular Articles in 2025

The ‘missing intercept’ problem with going from micro to macro

Electronic waste is a silent killer in West Africa

What broad lessons have we learned from 115 studies on unconditional cash transfers?

All articles

Polygyny and the economic determinants of family formation outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa

International spillover effects of air pollution: Evidence from mortality and health data

Can geography explain agricultural productivity differences across countries?

School internet access improved student learning in Peru…but it took time!

The long-run effect of public works employment: Evidence from Tunisia

Job losses, unemployment benefits and domestic violence: Evidence from Brazil

Removing local barriers to entry can boost productivity growth: Evidence from Peru

How import competition can increase quality upgrading and exporting: Evidence from Peru

Creative destruction and catch-up growth in India