Wild animal attacks are not that uncommon in many countries. Nothing can be salvaged of a farm’s crops once it is attacked by wild boars; the leftover crop cannot even be used as livestock fodder. What can be done? A randomized control trial provides some answers on what happens if you train the farmers.
Development that Works: Eight Friday links
February 22, 2013 By
Eight friday links: payday loans, happiness and computers,, Victorian criminals, , the worst public service, ,m poetry and therapy, the horror of the Bogotá Bronx, How long will it take to lift 1 billion people out of poverty
Development that Works: Accountability and corruption
February 19, 2013 By
The possibility of reelection helps in disciplining corrupt politicians. A new study shows that voters might ignore or even reward corrupt practices when the corrupt politician shares in the rents that the illegal action generates.
Development that Works: White elephants
February 12, 2013 By
The term “white elephant” derives from the presents that the kings of Siam gave their courtiers, in order to ruin them with their unbearable maintenance costs. Unfortunately today there are too many to count, but Cost Benefit analysis can help in culling them.
Development that Works: Opportunity costs
February 7, 2013 By
Opportunity costs are the cornerstone of Cost Benefit Analysis. The mother of all battles. The economist’s bread and butter. But if you wait for the doctor too long, they sink
Development that Works: If it rains less, will more kids die?
January 31, 2013 By
In Northeastern Brazil the evidence shows that negative rainfall shocks are robustly correlated with higher infant mortality, lower birth weight, and shorter gestation periods, particularly in the dry season
Development that Works: A new data plan for development economics?
January 29, 2013 By
Just as giant AETNA uses Google searches to track Flu outbreaks, development economists are starting to capitalize on cell phone usage data to study a range of phenomena and improve our understanding of development challenges
Development that Works: Inequality in Colombia
January 28, 2013 By
Inequality in Colombia is significantly higher than in Chile or Brazil, the countries that were among the most unequal in the region. This has not happened because Colombia´s inequality has worsened, but rather because it has not improved at the same pace as in those two countries.
Development that Works: Do teachers learn anything?
January 25, 2013 By
Teacher education in Latin America is dismal. Did teacher colleges forget how to teach?
Development that Works: Walmart and farmers’ welfare
January 23, 2013 By
What happens to farmers when a big corporation like WalMart expands in Nicaragua