Just as giant AETNA uses Google searches to track Flu outbreaks, development economists are starting to capitalize on cell phone usage data. In a recent paper Joshua Blumenstock analyzes cell phone use - a largely untapped source of fresh data for development economists - to track migration patterns in Rwanda: … [Read more...] about A new data plan for development economics?
Beyond development effectiveness
Inequality in Colombia
Latin America is arguably the most unequal place on earth. Inequality in Colombia is the worst in Latin-America. And if you are born poor in the countryside, a small town or on the coast or if you are part of an ethnic minority your prospects are even worse argue Marcela Meléndez and Francisco Ferreira in this paper. … [Read more...] about Inequality in Colombia
Do teachers learn anything?
From a very recent blog by our colleague Hugo Ñopo (in Spanish) Those that choose teaching are not those that have best Reading scores. Just the opposite. In this blog entry, we will state two additional facts: (i) on top of the poor reading scores, Young teachers have the worst performance in Math and English among all the college youth in their generation; and (ii) … [Read more...] about Do teachers learn anything?
Our 2012 blogstats (or looking at the mirror and smiling, twice)
Welcome and thanks for coming back. We had a good year in terms of readership and we want to share our numbers (over 40,000 visitors for our two language site), but first allow me a (very) short blurb. … [Read more...] about Our 2012 blogstats (or looking at the mirror and smiling, twice)
Albert Hirschman and Colombia
Albert Hirschman was one of the most influential development economists in the last 50years. As he passed away yesterday, it is important to remember that his years in Colombia helped shape both Colombian development policy and his classic The Strategy of Economic Development. Jeremy Adelman reminds us: … [Read more...] about Albert Hirschman and Colombia