Author: Marissa Block
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Benchmarking Development Projects to Cash
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In recent years, there has been increasing evidence in support of cash transfers, both conditional and unconditional. In fact, there are organizations whose sole purpose is to give cash directly to the poor. While the evidence suggests that cash transfers can improve livelihoods, there is relatively little evidence on how…
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When Formality is too Costly: An Experiment from Benin
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Many economies in the developing world exhibit a dual structure: the formal sector and the informal sector. While large firms operate in the formal sphere, a majority of small- to medium-size firms operate informally. Estimates of the size of the informal economy vary, but in many countries, especially sub-Saharan Africa,…
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The Conflicting Outcomes of Food Price Shocks
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Given the preponderance of violence and civil conflict in Africa, development practitioners are eager to understand the relationship between economic conditions and conflict. Conflict can negatively impact education, health, and state capacity—all important components of economic growth. While the negative consequences of conflict are clear, the conditions giving rise to…