A5073626286- Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
- Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- FinTech, Crowdfunding, Digital Finance
- Urban and Rural Development Challenges
- Agricultural risk and resilience
- Social and Economic Development in India
- Innovation and Socioeconomic Development
- Islamic Finance and Banking Studies
- Income, Poverty, and Inequality
- Gender, Labor, and Family Dynamics
- Water resources management and optimization
- Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth
- Infant Development and Preterm Care
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Economic Growth and Development
- Misinformation and Its Impacts
- Early Childhood Education and Development
- Demographic Trends and Gender Preferences
- Media Influence and Politics
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Land Rights and Reforms
- Child and Adolescent Health
Institute for Fiscal Studies
2015-2024
University of Kent
2021-2023
University of Milano-Bicocca
2019-2023
United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research
2020-2023
University of St Andrews
2021-2023
Universidade Nova de Lisboa
2021-2023
York Minster
2023
University of Westminster
2023
World Bank
2021-2023
SIL International
2023
Abstract Widespread acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines is crucial for achieving sufficient immunization coverage to end the global pandemic, yet few studies have investigated vaccination attitudes in lower-income countries, where large-scale just beginning. We analyze vaccine across 15 survey samples covering 10 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) Asia, Africa South America, Russia (an upper-middle-income country) United States, including a total 44,260 individuals. find considerably...
We use an RCT to analyze the impacts of microcredit. The study population consists loan applicants who were marginally rejected by MFI in Bosnia. A random subset these offered a loan. provide evidence higher self-employment, increases inventory, reduction incidence wage work and increase labor supply 16–19-year-olds household's business. also present some profits consumption savings. There is no that program increased overall household income. (JEL C93, G21, I38, J23, L25, P34, P36)
We present evidence from a randomized field experiment in rural Mongolia to assess the poverty impacts of joint-liability microcredit program targeted at women. find positive impact access group loans on female entrepreneurship and household food consumption but not total working hours or income household. A simultaneously introduced individual-liability delivers no significant impacts. Additional results informal transfers families friends suggest that joint liability may deter borrowers...
Our study contributes to the understanding of key drivers stunted growth, a factor widely recognized as major impediment human capital development. Specifically, we examine effects sanitation coverage and usage on child height for age in semi-urban setting Northern India. Although – broadly defined hygienic means promoting health through prevention contact with hazards wastes, particularly waste has long been acknowledged an indispensable element disease primary care programmes, large number...
Poor early childhood development in low- and middle-income countries is a major public health problem. Efficacy trials have shown the potential of interventions but scaling up costly challenging. Guidance on effective interventions' delivery needed. In an open-label cluster-randomized control trial, we compared effectiveness weekly home visits mother-child group sessions. Both included nutritional education, whose was tested separately.In Odisha, India, 192 villages were randomly assigned to...
Abstract We analyze COVID-19 vaccine acceptance across 15 survey samples covering ten low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) in Asia, Africa, South America, Russia (an upper-middle-income country), the United States, using responses from 44,260 individuals. find considerably higher willingness to take a LMIC (80% on average) compared States (65%) (30%). Vaccine was primarily explained by an interest personal protection against COVID-19, while concern about side effects most commonly...
Background An estimated 63.4 million Indian children under 5 years are at risk of poor development. Home visits that use a structured curriculum to help caregivers enhance the quality home stimulation environment improve developmental outcomes. However, achieving effectiveness in urban contexts through scalable models remains challenging. Methods Using cluster randomised controlled trial, we evaluated psychosocial intervention, comprising weekly for 18 months, slums Cuttack, Odisha, India....
We use a randomised controlled trial (RCT) to analyse the impact of microcredit on poverty reduction in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The study population are loan applicants that would normally have just been rejected based regular screening. find access credit allowed borrowers start expand small-scale businesses. Households already had business where borrower more education, ran down their savings, presumably complement achieve minimum amount necessary business. In less-educated households,...
We present evidence from a randomized field experiment in rural Mongolia to assess the poverty impacts of joint-liability microcredit program targeted at women. find positive impact access group loans on female entrepreneurship and household food consumption but not total working hours or income household. A simultaneously introduced individual-liability delivers no significant impacts. Additional results informal transfers families friends suggest that joint liability may deter borrowers...
We present evidence from a randomized field experiment in rural Mongolia on the comparative poverty impact of group versus individual microcredit. find positive loans but not entrepreneurship and food consumption. Moreover, borrowers are less likely to make informal transfers families friends while opposite holds true for borrowers. This suggests that joint liability may deter using non-investment purposes with stronger impacts as result. no difference repayment rates between both types
Sanitation is at the heart of public health policies in most developing world, where around 85% population still lack access to safe sanitation. We study effectiveness a widely adopted participatory community-level information intervention aimed improving Results from randomized controlled trial, implemented scale rural Nigeria, reveal stark heterogeneity impacts: has immediate, strong and lasting effects on sanitation practices less wealthy communities, realized through increased...
We present evidence from Rwanda's Girinka ('One Cow per Poor Family') program that has distributed more than 130,000 livestock asset transfers in the form of cows to rural poor since 2006. Supply side constraints on resulted some beneficiaries receiving complementary training with cow transfer, and other households not such their cow. exploit these differences estimate additional impact household's economic outcomes up six years after having received transfer. Our results show even a setting...
We use an RCT to analyze the impact of microcredit on poverty reduction, child and teenage labour supply, education.The study population consists loan applicants a major MFI in Bosnia who would have been rejected through regular screening.Access credit allowed borrowers start expand small-scale businesses.Households that already had business where borrower more education, ran down savings, presumably complement achieve minimum investment amount.However, less-educated households consumption...
We use an RCT to analyze the impacts of microcredit. The study population consists loan applicants who were marginally rejected by MFI in Bosnia. A random subset these offered a loan. provide evidence higher self-employment, increases inventory, reduction incidence wage work and increase labor supply 16–19-year-olds household's business. also present some profits consumption savings. There is no that program increased overall household income.
This paper uses unique primary data on directly elicited individual subjective expectations to analyse and characterize the process that generates income of poor, rural Indian households. We validate use responses questions a parametric assumption fit household‐specific probability distribution for future income. Combining computed moments from this with actual current income, we specify estimate dynamic model household find our households face very persistent process. Our is one first processes.
We exploit novel data collected within a randomized controlled trial of sanitation microcredit intervention to study how intra-household gender differences in perceptions costs and benefits impact investment decisions. show that – as long the wife is involved household decision-making we document influence borrowing investments: uptake loan higher among households where has benefit perception, whereas successful conversion toilet depends on monetary cost perceptions. The estimated effects...
Despite considerable achievements in the reduction of poverty over last decades, remains conspicuously high and profound. While fast urban population growth, especially Sub-Saharan Africa, has contributed to reduction, new development challenges like urbanisation emerge. However, little is known about state persistence areas. This study investigates within theory traps among households Nigeria, Tanzania Ethiopia, three countries Africa with large populations growth. Using household panel...
Imperfect capital markets and commitment problems impede lumpy human investments. Labeled loans have been postulated as a potential solution to both constraints, but little is known about the role of label in influencing investment choices practice. We draw on cluster randomized controlled trial rural India test predictions from theoretical model, providing novel evidence that labeled microcredit effective household borrowing decisions increasing take-up investment, toilet.
We implement a randomized controlled trial and qualitative study to assess whether, if so how, behavioral change can be sustained. do in the context of Pakistan's national sanitation strategy combat open defecation, Community-Led Total Sanitation. Our findings demonstrate that continued follow-up activities build on original intervention lead only modest reductions reversal unsafe average, but gain importance where initial conditions are unfavorable, i.e. poor public infrastructure...
Abstract This paper uses primary micro-data from Indian households residing in rural villages and poor urban neighbourhoods to shed light on household sanitation decision-making. We use a theoretical economic model reduce the dimensionality complexity of this process. Beyond most commonly analysed motivator, health, we consider non-pecuniary benefits. provide empirical evidence that each these margins matter, do so both contexts, discuss how our findings can be explored policy programme design.
Governments face trade-offs in investing many different inputs to markets an effort make them function more smoothly, and often these are managed by bureaucrats with their own priorities. Many of acutely dependent on all elements the system functioning well order reach a reasonably high level equilibrium provision (education, public works, infrastructure, etc). In sanitation particular, failure at any supply chain creates downstream effects. addition, local demand depends enforcement,...
Abstract We study theoretically and empirically the demand for microcredit under different liability arrangements risk environments. A theoretical model shows that joint-liability loans can exceed individual-liability when risk-averse borrowers value their long-term relationship with lender. Joint then offers a way to diversify reduce chance of losing access future loans. also show depends negatively on riskiness projects. Using data from randomised controlled trial in Mongolia we find these...
This paper revisits recent claims that poor households owning cattle in developing countries settings do not behave according to the tenets of capitalism. We point out discussion was based on evidence from one single year only, while cows and buffalos are assets whose return varies through time. In drought years, when fodder is scarce more expensive, milk production lower profits low. nondrought abundant cheaper, higher can be considerably higher. Therefore, buffalos, like many stocks traded...