As demand for heroin decreases in the US—driven by the growing dominance of synthetic opioids—drug cartels have pivoted to an unexpected but profitable venture: avocados. This has increased violence directed at civilians, presenting policymakers with...
Why do some protests grow quickly into large movements that force governments to respond, whereas others slowly die out? What drives individuals to join and what determines when a government decides to concede?
Foreign aid cuts by the US, UK, and others present an opportunity for China. Increased Chinese foreign assistance should be expected, as evidence on VoxDev shows that it makes sense for the country’s domestic and foreign goals.
Evidence from Mexico City shows training enhances officer interactions with citizens and reduces harmful conduct, providing valuable insights for improving frontline services.
New research uses mobile phone transaction data to shed light on the nature of religious adherence in Afghanistan, revealing that religiously motivated insurgent violence reduces religiosity while climate-induced income shocks increase religiosity.
Political connections helped firms secure scarce credit, delay payments, boost investments, and grow faster following the major economic crisis in India due to demonetisation.
Digitalisation reforms have become a popular policy tool in developing countries. Evidence from Pakistan, however, suggests that digitising land records can have unintended consequences on bureaucratic behaviour and, in turn, tax collection.
An unprecedented gender gap in political preferences has emerged in many countries. Evidence from the 2018 Brazilian presidential election shows that labour market shocks which disproportionately affect men can increase support for right-wing populis...
Over the past seven years, VoxDev has featured a range of research highlighting where coordinated well-designed aid efforts have delivered striking results.
