Author Archives: Ken

Taxation and Development

Posted on February 10, 2013 by Ken

A new paper by Besley and Persson illuminating the relationship between development and patterns of taxation. A quick summary from the conclusion of the paper: “As a state moves from collecting a low level of public revenue of around 10% … Continue reading →

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Assessing Trustworthiness

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Ken

Why are some people more trusting than others? From a new CEPR paper by Jeff Butler, Paola Giuliano and Luigi Guiso: “we show that individuals extrapolate from their own type when forming trust beliefs about the same pool of potential … Continue reading →

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Determinants of Democracy

Posted on February 5, 2013 by Ken

From Nathan Nunn and Paola Giuliano Abstract We provide evidence that a history of democracy at the local level is associated with contemporary democracy at the national level. Auxiliary estimates show that a tradition of local democracy is also associated … Continue reading →

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Technological Diffusion

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Ken

In Economic Growth, we are focusing on technology, efficiency and productivity tomorrow. Here is a current related paper from the Centre for Economic Policy Research. From the Abstract “We find significant evidence that technology diffuses slower to locations that are … Continue reading →

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Insuring Against the Weather

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Ken

Possibly of interest to students in both micro theory (insurance) and the MIPP program (food security), this short brief from IFPRI looks at the effects of micro-insurance in Ethiopia.

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Research and Conservative Talking Points

Posted on January 31, 2013 by Ken

The connection between culture and economic growth is a complicated one – made particularly difficult by the fact that cultures change far more slowly than patterns in economic growth. Regardless, this column is remarkable for being a concise argument for … Continue reading →

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Did the Food Price Crisis Reduce Food Security?

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Ken

Recent evidence from Derek Headey at IFPRI on the impact of the food price crisis using self-reported levels of food-insecurity. Abstract We provide the first large-scale survey-based evidence on the impact of the global food crisis of 2007–08 using an … Continue reading →

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Information Asymmetry and Corporate Finance

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Ken

This week in micro theory we are focused on adverse selection. A current article in VoxEU looks at the issue of information asymmetry in capital markets, and finds the evidence one might expect – information asymmetries increase the cost of … Continue reading →

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The End of Hunger and Malnutrition

Posted on January 29, 2013 by Ken

Tomorrow in the International Policy class, we are focused on food policy issues – so the column by the Director-General of the FAO today in Project Syndicate is very topical. The key point is that “The Council of the United … Continue reading →

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Business as Usual or Sustainable Development

Posted on January 25, 2013 by Ken

Optimistic as usual, Jeffrey Sachs on the need for sustainable development – a new article at Project Syndicate.

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