Developmental Economics

When the Schuylkill swallowed the city: Lessons from Hurricane Ida’s historic flood

Growing impact: Binghamton University generates $1.79 billion for New York state

The university generated an 8% increase in economic activity, creating 12,603 jobs statewide and supporting a regional economy of $1.69 billion. Binghamton University's expansion and student spending also contributed to the growth, with faculty members holding top degrees in their fields.

Foreign direct investment is no silver bullet for growth, new research shows

Foreign direct investment's benefits are not consistent and depend on alignment of factors. The study suggests that existing theories may not fully capture the complexity of today's global investment landscape.

New research outlines pathway to achieve high well-being and a safe climate without economic growth

A study by the Institute of Environmental Science and Technology of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona establishes the principles for modelling post-growth scenarios, pointing to the need for targeted demand-side measures and investments in low-carbon technologies. The research highlights the potential for post-growth to achieve pos...

Drug-related homicides increased in Mexico after NAFTA

A study by University of Cologne researchers found a significant increase in drug-related homicides along strategic trafficking routes after NAFTA came into force in 1994. The homicide rate among males aged 15-39 increased by 2.1 cases per 100,000 in these regions.

Green iron trade: Rescuing European steel while building African industry

A new perspective argues that European steel's green industrialisation pathway and Africa's steel development are intertwined solutions. Hydrogen-based direct reduced iron (H2-DRI) production in Africa can provide a lower-cost alternative for European steelmakers, while supporting developing countries' economic growth.

Beyond the pandemic: how coworking spaces survive in rural areas

Coworking spaces in rural areas, such as Catalonia and Rhineland-Palatinate, have adapted to funding models that include private investment, public subsidies, and user contributions. These spaces often serve as pillars of the community, fostering social connections and local development.

UC3M secures two prestigious ERC Consolidator Grants for research projects on space propulsion and intergenerational mobility

The Universidad Carlos III de Madrid has been awarded two prestigious ERC Consolidator Grants to tackle major challenges in space propulsion and social mobility. The ROCINANTE project will develop more efficient space thrusters, while the EXKIN project will study intergenerational mobility and inequality.

Behind the 2025 “shroom boom” hides a bad trip

The article highlights the mismatch between psychedelics and economic drug development principles. Pharmaceutical companies are developing short-acting compounds and neuroplastogens to engineer trips out of the experience altogether. Dr. Sandy Hager's research suggests investors should remain cautious due to weak intellectual property ...

Nobel Laureates Duflo and Banerjee to join UZH

Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will establish the Lemann Center for Development, Education and Public Policy at UZH, focusing on policy-relevant research and education. The center aims to foster collaboration between UZH and Brazilian researchers and policymakers.

PTSD costs the UK economy £40 billion a year, new research says

A new study by the University of Birmingham found that Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has a significant impact on the UK economy, with average annual costs exceeding £14,781 per person. The total economic burden is estimated to be around £40 billion, which is expected to rise further due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hotel revenues are reaching a new high in Colorado

A study by Florian Zach found that Colorado hotels increased average monthly revenue by 25% between 2014 and 2019, primarily due to higher room bookings and daily rates. Hotels closer to dispensaries, newer and more upscale, and in high-demand areas saw the greatest benefits from dispensary legalization.

Analysis documents changing trends in U.S. carbon emissions

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University analyze historical U.S. carbon emissions trends, identifying factors that contributed to changes and offering lessons for developing countries. The study suggests that investing in efficient technologies and avoiding overreliance on coal can help avoid pitfalls encountered by the United States.

Africa needs more large firms, not more entrepreneurs, for economic growth

Researchers argue that boosting entrepreneurship is counterproductive to Africa's economic development due to a lack of large firms. The study suggests that focusing on building large firms and adopting strategies from East Asia's successful growth models could be more effective.

Brain drain? More like brain gain: How high-skilled emigration boosts global prosperity

A new study finds that high-skilled emigration from developing countries can spur education, innovation, and economic growth in their home countries. This phenomenon is known as brain gain. The researchers also found that high-skilled migrants often maintain professional ties across borders, facilitating trade, investment, and innovation.

International cooperation needed for healthy sustainable diets

A study found that 186 countries struggle to produce enough of essential food groups for their own needs, with significant gaps in meat and dairy products. The research highlights the need for international cooperation to build resilient food supply chains and ensure public health.

Emotive marketing for sustainable consumption?

Researchers found that emotional social media posts increase short-term willingness to pay for sustainable chocolate, but this effect diminishes within two weeks. The study suggests that emotional content can be an effective way to promote sustainable consumption in the short term.

Researchers link India’s food program to better health and stronger incomes

A study published in the American Economic Journal found that India's Public Distribution System (PDS) reduces malnutrition rates by 8.2% and increases household expenditure by 12.4%, with benefits extending beyond just calories to income, health, and human capital.

Transformation of UN SDGs only way forward for sustainable development

A new study calls for the integration of climate resilience into every aspect of the UN SDGs to secure a sustainable future. The researchers propose five key recommendations, including aligning the Paris Agreement's climate objectives with the SDGs and empowering local communities to develop climate-focused policies.

Study: EV charging stations boost spending at nearby businesses

A study by MIT researchers found that EV charging stations increase annual spending at nearby businesses by an average of $1,500 in 2019 and $400 from 2021 to 2023. The impact is particularly pronounced for businesses within 100 yards of charging stations and in low-income areas.

COVID-19 pandemic tied to low birth weight for infants in India, study shows

A new study from the University of Notre Dame found that the COVID-19 pandemic led to a significant increase in low birth weights among Indian infants. The research analyzed data from over 200,000 babies and showed that the prevalence of low birth weight rose by 3% during the pandemic.

Association between neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation in an autopsy cohort

Researchers found a significant association between neighborhood deprivation and DNA methylation in brain tissue, which may be linked to immune response. The study identified one CpG site (cg26514961, PLXNC1 gene) significantly associated with neighborhood deprivation after controlling for covariates.

Economist: Tens of billions of dollars in forest products are being overlooked

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that annual producer income from non-wood products is $88 billion, with the added value of processing reaching trillions of dollars. Non-timber forest products contribute significantly to food security, health, and employment in low- and middle-income countries.

A ‘fish cartel’ for Africa could benefit the countries, and their seas

African nations could see an additional $37 million in profit each year by raising access fees for their fisheries. This would lead to an increase in fish biomass and a more sustainable operation. However, challenges include differing interests and objectives among governments and varying conditions of different fisheries.

Child labor contributes to the preservation of forest cover

A new study reveals that child labor plays a significant role in preserving forest cover in southwestern Ethiopia. However, the economic-environmental synergy of smallholder shade coffee production is compromised by an undesirable reliance on child labor, leading to negative effects on children's schooling.

$30M USAID grant sees soybean innovation through the last mile in Africa

The University of Illinois has received a $30 million investment from USAID to develop soybean value chains across Sub-Saharan Africa. The project aims to remove last-mile obstacles to technology adoption, including seed, productivity-improvement, and credit issues.

Chung-Ang University study reveals sustainable business solutions for food cold chains

Researchers identified critical success factors for mitigating challenges in the food cold chain, including stakeholder pressure and sustainable investment. The study provides a detailed theoretical framework for developing sustainable business strategies in China.

Splits and mergers: Investigating the role of policy disagreements in party switching using a Japanese example

A Japanese study reveals that policy disagreement and politicization led to the split of Japan's largest opposition party in 2017. The researchers found that traditional DIF analysis failed to capture the complexity of party positions, but a corrected version showed strong discord over defense policy.

Launch of new eye-tracking lab expands research opportunities at UTIA

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture's REM Lab uses eye-tracking technology to study consumer preferences, product evaluations, and behavior. The lab aims to develop new solutions in multiple agricultural industries, with potential applications in marketing design and product displays.

Childhood circumstances and personality traits are associated with loneliness in older age

A new study found that childhood circumstances and personality traits are significantly associated with loneliness in older age, accounting for 10.42% and 7.50% of the variance respectively. Life experiences during childhood, such as having few friends or a poor relationship with parents, can increase the risk of loneliness later in life.

Research highlights that working while in school has long-lasting effects on human capital formation

A well-designed work-study program can improve earnings and employment likelihood for participants, with no negative impact on school attendance or grades. The study found that working experience increased conscientiousness and work attitudes, leading to higher wages and earnings.

Study: Wall Street’s home-market move has ups, downs for renters

Institutional landlords have raised rent prices in neighborhoods where they own properties, but also improved neighborhood quality and safety. However, these improvements come at a cost to affordability, as rents increased by an average of 0.51% in overlapped neighborhoods.

Researchers find limited economic cost to robust carbon emission goals

A new study finds that while immediate economic benefits of carbon emissions reductions are limited, most scenarios have net economic benefits after 2050. The benefits are most dramatic for developing countries, with a median net benefit of 6.0% of GDP for a 1.5°C reduction target.

Study finds reducing carbon emissions won’t hurt economic growth

The study explores how countries can reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 with continued economic growth through 2100. The results suggest that stringent public policies and rapid deployment of low-carbon technologies are necessary to achieve this goal, with the global economy projected to be five times its size in 2100.

Stock market returns track the strength of the dollar

Researchers found that an appreciation of the US dollar leads to higher stock returns, while a decline in local currency stock returns accompanies a weaker dollar. Emerging market economy stocks with high dollar beta tend to have higher average returns.

Poorly conceived payment-on-results funding threatens to undermine education aid

A new study examines the 'Programme for Results' scheme, a results-based financing package underpinning Ethiopian government's education reforms. It found that several aspects of the project were unfit for purpose from the start, including inadequate systems to measure results and overlooked groups of children with disabilities.

Research: Partnership between humanitarian organizations and governments is essential for providing cash assistance to refugees

Research from Indiana University reveals that cash assistance is a double-edged sword, harming both refugees and local residents if not implemented correctly. Humanitarian organizations can extend cash assistance to host regions with market power by partnering with local governments.

Digital finance doesn’t reduce inequality; it perpetuates it

A new study suggests that digital financial services, intended to reduce inequality, may actually amplify economic disparities among women in developing countries. The study found that physical infrastructure, mobile phone network quality, education, and wealth all play a significant role in determining access to digital finance.

Pre-primary education played ‘protective’ role against COVID learning losses in sub-Saharan Africa

A study of over 2,600 children in Ethiopia found that pre-primary education prevented 'alarming' learning losses when schools reopened. Children without pre-primary education showed a four-fold increase in learning deficits.

Precious metal commodities can enhance investment portfolio performance, say Pusan National University researchers

A study published in Applied Economics analyzed the relationship between precious metal commodities and equity markets, revealing that gold and aluminum are the most desirable metals for investment. The research also found that copper and zinc have the largest spillovers on global equity indices.

Lower sex-selective abortion rates in India districts with Muslim legislators

New research by the universities of Kent, Warwick and Notre Dame has found that sex-selective abortion is lower in India districts with a Muslim state legislator. This is due to stronger stated preferences against abortion among Muslims compared to Hindus, making Muslim legislators more effective at reducing abortion rates.

Late decarbonizers face mounting economic risks

Countries lagging behind in renewable energy adoption risk lower industrial competitiveness and economic instability. Uneven transition patterns can exacerbate existing international tensions, making it difficult for late decarbonizers to catch up with early movers.

Debt crises: Politics determine how developing countries borrow

A new study by researchers at Princeton University found that developing countries tend to borrow in domestic currencies when issuing sovereign bonds, allowing them to act on their domestic policy preferences. This choice affects the types of pressures creditors put on governments and the ease or difficulty in paying off debts.

Why lockdown in Africa does not work as a first COVID-19 pandemic response

The poor are unlikely to obey strict lockdowns due to lack of nutrition, economic opportunities, and infrastructure. African policymakers need to prioritize social and economic measures over stringent lockdowns to slow the spread of COVID-19 and future pandemics.

New research sheds light on the reluctance of farmers to adopt new technologies

Small-scale farmers in Ghana are reluctant to adopt modern technologies that reduce traditional risks, such as poor weather conditions and aquatic predators. The study found that aversion to these risks accelerates the adoption of innovative technologies like floating cages and disease-resistant fish breeds.

Neural networks taught to recognize similar objects on videos without accuracy degradation

Researchers developed a method that enables neural networks to identify similar objects in videos without accuracy degradation. The new algorithm reduces the time for recognition by 1.5 to 10 times, making it suitable for mobile devices and other gadgets.

Researchers develop an operative complex scheme for short-range weather forecasts

Researchers developed a comprehensive forecast system to improve accuracy in wind, temperature, humidity, and gust forecasts. The scheme combines results from several global and regional forecasting schemes, reducing errors by up to 4 days.

Mathematicians propose first continuous self-organized criticality model

Researchers present a new continuous model describing self-organized criticality, integrating areas such as economics and developmental biology. The model uses tropical geometry to describe the dynamics of critical systems, providing a universal solution for phenomena like earthquakes and sandpiles.

Only 36.5 percent of Russian companies now pursuing intensive intangible strategy

Researchers found two polar strategies among organizations - generic and smart - with smart firms boosting development in all areas. Companies with above-average intellectual resources outperform those in the generics category regarding productivity and economic value added.

Tennessee's David Hughes receives AAEA's Distinguished Extension/Outreach Program Award

David Hughes and his team received an Honorable Mention for their work on The Economics of Local Food Systems: A Toolkit to Guide Community Discussions, Assessments and Choices. The toolkit aims to provide standardized evaluations of food systems, leading to better-informed policy decisions.

Birmingham's early warning system flags global financial crises

Researchers at the University of Birmingham have developed a new 'early warning system' that can forecast sovereign debt crises more accurately than existing systems. The system takes into account differences between developed and developing countries, providing policymakers with valuable insights to mitigate damage associated with an ...

Geographers provide new insight into commuter megaregions of the US

A study by geographers at Dartmouth College and the University of Sheffield maps out complex networks of economic systems, natural resources, and infrastructure in US megaregions. The analysis reveals functional regions within broader areas, emphasizing the role of economic geography in understanding community needs.

As US border enforcement increases, Mexican migration patterns shift, new research shows

New research shows that increased US border enforcement alters traditional settlement patterns, leading more Mexican immigrants to settle in states beyond the borders. For every 1,000 additional border patrol agents, a state's share of Mexican immigrants declined by nearly 22 percentage points.

There may be a complex market living in your gut

A team of researchers, led by Joshua Tasoff, used economic principles to study the behavior of Escherichia coli cells. The study found that as trade increased, bacterial communities grew faster, but at a cost: exporting microbes slowed their own growth.

Conservation policies could improve human health

A study published in PNAS found that strictly protected areas, like parks and reserves, have lower incidences of malaria, acute respiratory infections, and diarrhea. By preserving biodiversity, these areas can act as a barrier to disease transmission, suggesting a potential double win for public health benefits.

The Lancet: New developments in personalized medicine could save billions of dollars in improved health

Researchers predict that personalized medicine interventions could generate significant healthcare gains, including a $607 billion reduction in heart disease incidence. However, weak incentives to develop these interventions hinder their adoption, and experts suggest reimbursement reform could strengthen manufacturers' incentives.

Greenhouse gas policies ignoring gap in household incomes: University of Alberta study

A University of Alberta study found that wealthy households emit more greenhouse gases than average, while low-income households generate significantly less. The study recommends policymakers consider incentives for smaller homes and public transit to address this issue.

NCD prevention 'more important than life or death'

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine emphasizes that NCD prevention requires significant economic changes across populations and industries to reduce premature deaths by 25% by 2025. Effective policies must consider the broader macro-economic picture, not just micro-economic approaches.

How do political debates affect advertising?

A recent study by University of Chicago Press Journals found that political debate can sometimes decrease the impact of subsequent ads. Researchers discovered that inducing supportive elaborations increased ad effectiveness, while counterarguing mindset decreased it. This suggests context plays a significant role in advertising efficacy

Is oil pricing itself out of the market?

U of A researchers explore hypothetical economic models that suggest oil producers should pay attention to emerging alternatives. If an alternative resource becomes more economically attractive, oil producers may have to adjust to make sure they don't hasten their own obsolescence.