A5051860438- Agricultural Innovations and Practices
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Fiscal Policy and Economic Growth
- COVID-19 Clinical Research Studies
- COVID-19 epidemiological studies
- Agricultural risk and resilience
- Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare
- Income, Poverty, and Inequality
- International Development and Aid
- Corruption and Economic Development
- Taxation and Compliance Studies
- SARS-CoV-2 detection and testing
- COVID-19 and Mental Health
- Economic Growth and Development
- Natural Resources and Economic Development
- Personality Traits and Psychology
- Labor market dynamics and wage inequality
- Microfinance and Financial Inclusion
- Firm Innovation and Growth
- Biosensors and Analytical Detection
- Vaccine Coverage and Hesitancy
- Decision-Making and Behavioral Economics
- Educational Outcomes and Influences
- COVID-19 Pandemic Impacts
- Global Security and Public Health
Universidad de Los Andes
2017-2023
Universidad de Los Andes, Chile
2018-2022
National Bureau of Economic Research
2014-2019
University of California, Davis
2014-2019
Universidad de Los Andes
2017-2019
Paris School of Economics
2012-2015
Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement
2015
Barcelona School of Economics
2014
University of California, San Diego
2014
University of California, San Francisco
2014
Can personality traits be measured and interpreted reliably across the world? While use of Big Five measures is increasingly common social sciences, their validity outside western, educated, industrialized, rich, democratic (WEIRD) populations unclear. Adopting a comprehensive psychometric approach to analyze 29 face-to-face surveys from 94,751 respondents in 23 low- middle-income countries, we show that commonly used questions generally fail measure intended low validity. These findings...
The Green Revolution, which bolstered agricultural yields and economic well-being in Asia Latin America beginning the 1960s, largely bypassed sub-Saharan Africa. We study first randomized controlled trial of a government-implemented input subsidy program (ISP) Africa intended to foment Revolution. find that this temporary for Mozambican maize farmers stimulates Revolution technology adoption leads increased yields. Effects persist later unsubsidized years. In addition, social networks...
Rachid Laajaj and Karen Macours is an associate professor at the Universidad de Los Andes (r.laajaj{at}uniandes.edu.co) a Paris School of Economics INRA researcher
Across the world, COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected economically disadvantaged groups. This differential impact numerous possible explanations, each with significantly different policy implications. We examine, for first time in a low- or middle-income country, which mechanisms best explain disproportionate of virus on poor. Combining an epidemiological model rich data from Bogotá, Colombia, we show that total infections and inequalities are largely driven by ability to work...
This paper explores the links among natural disasters, climate change and economic development, attempts to outline a framework for considering these links. The summarises limited knowledge of long-term impact disasters. Drawing resource management, conflicts other transmission channels is necessary condition develop an appropriate response. argues that African governments along with their development partners need more robust adaptation response capability disasters as part planning. makes...
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Latin America has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but estimations of rates infections are very limited and lack level detail required to guide policy decisions. We implemented a sentinel surveillance study with 59,770 RT-PCR tests on mostly asymptomatic individuals combine this data administrative records all detected cases capture spread dynamics in Bogota from June 2020 early March 2021. describe various features that appear be specific middle income countries. find that,...
We assess the effects of computerization import transactions in Colombia on volume, port efficiency and performance manufacturing firms. Staggered implementation allows us to identify causal reform. find that triggered a significant increase reported imports reformed ports compared nonreformed ones, along with sizeable tax collection. Our results indicate combination factors underpin declared imports: an actual firms' imports, reduction underreporting redirection from reveals importers'...
Increased adoption of improved agricultural technologies is considered an essential step to address global poverty and hunger, agronomic trials suggest intensification in developing countries could result large yield gains. Yet the promise new does not always carry over from real-life conditions, diffusion many remains limited. We show how parcel farmer selection, together with behavioural responses trials, can explain why gain estimates may differ gains smallholders using same inputs under...
We study the ex ante motivational effect of a nationwide merit and need-based scholarship in Colombia, which granted full scholarships to low-income students at high-quality universities. Specifically, we analyze how opportunity receive scholarship, influenced performance national high-school exit 9th grade exams, their university enrollment rates. Following differences-in-discontinuity design, find that significantly increased test scores high school exam top distribution. At 90th...
Epidemiologic surveillance of COVID-19 is essential to collect and analyse data improve public health decision making during the pandemic. There are few initiatives led by public-private alliances in Colombia Latin America. The CoVIDA project contributed with RT-PCR tests for SARS-CoV-2 mild or asymptomatic populations Bogotá. present study aimed determine factors associated infection working adults.COVID-19 intensified sentinel epidemiological study, from April 18, 2020, March 29, 2021....
Massive molecular testing for COVID-19 has been pointed out as fundamental to moderate the spread of pandemic. Pooling methods can enhance efficiency, but they are viable only at low incidences disease. We propose Smart Pooling, a machine learning method that uses clinical and sociodemographic data from patients increase efficiency informed Dorfman by arranging samples into all-negative pools. To do this, we ran an automated train numerous models on retrospective dataset more than 8000...
Symptoms-based models for predicting SARS-CoV-2 infection may improve clinical decision-making and be an alternative to resource allocation in under-resourced settings. In this study we aimed test a model based on symptoms predict positive result during the COVID-19 pandemic using logistic regression machine-learning approach, Bogotá, Colombia. Participants from CoVIDA project were included. A was chosen biological plausibility Akaike Information criterion. Also, performed analysis machine...
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic emerged in a context that lacked adequate prevention, preparedness, and response (PPR) activities, global, regional, national leadership. South American countries were among world’s hardest hit by the pandemic, accounting for 10.1% of total cases 20.1% global deaths. Methods This study explores how PPR affected political, socioeconomic, health system contexts as well may have shaped outcomes Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Peru. We then identify lessons...
This paper analyzes the impact of economic prospects on one’s time preference. Research in psychol- ogy has shown how individuals modify their preferences order to reduce cognitive dissonance, which is uncomfortable tension felt when simultaneously holding conflicting thoughts. It occurs among poor caring about future welfare while having gloomy prospects. Hence closing eyes can psychological distress at cost worsening wellbeing. offers a new theoretical approach that decom- poses...
To estimate the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in close contacts of adults at high infection due to occupation, participants CoVIDA study, Bogotá D.C., Colombia. The study was largest COVID-19 intensified sentinel epidemiological surveillance Colombia thus far, performing over 60 000 RT-PCR tests infection. implemented a contact tracing strategy (via telephone call) support traditional actions performed by local health authority. Close from study. testing results were obtained...
Customs face a difficult tradeoff between, on one side, collecting tariff revenues and preventing smuggling, the other avoiding creating additional barriers to trade. They also tend concentrate discretionary power in hands of officials whose decisions can bear high costs for firms, room rent extraction. In this context, information technologies limit direct interactions, reduce transaction allow local businesses better take benefits international We assess effects computerization import...
The use of respiratory devices can mitigate the spread diseases such as COVID-19 in community settings. We aimed to determine effectiveness closed face shields with surgical masks prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission working adults during pandemic Bogotá, Colombia.