Cash Transfers are probably one of the most researched interventions in the world. The great majority of this research has focused on short to medium term impacts. This is not surprising as the first modern Cash Transfer Program, Progresa (now called Oportunidades), is a 16 years old adolescent. In addition, the evidence on “longer” term effects is still considered weak. A … [Read more...] about Cash transfers, 103 years ago
It’s the costs, stupid
On this blog we have talked about cost benefit pitfalls and white elephants, speculated on how (not) to lie with it, but also and more boringly we have discussed discount rates, cognition, opportunity costs, and the costs of inaction, all hoping to go back to the future. The focus of most of the Cost Benefit literature is on the estimation of the benefits side of the Cost … [Read more...] about It’s the costs, stupid
The Kuznets criminal curve
By: Paolo Buonanno*, Leopoldo Fergusson**, Juan F. Vargas*** Introducing ... the CKC In almost every US state, the relationship between crime and income is strikingly clear. Since 1970, the data shows a pervasive pattern similar to an inverted U-shape: crime increases with per capita income until it reaches a maximum and then decreases as income keeps rising. … [Read more...] about The Kuznets criminal curve
One mestizo, one DNA test, and my origins
According to Unicef there are 29 million indigenous people in Latin America. Indigenous peoples represent 6 per cent of the population of Latin America; mestizos, afro-descendants, whites, and other races represent the other 94 per cent. The vast majority of us are mestizos, a mixed race of Spaniards and Indigenous. Indigenous people face a lot of difficulties. In … [Read more...] about One mestizo, one DNA test, and my origins
18 ways to fail
Lately in my daily commute, I have been listening to audio books. This past couple of days it has been Flash Boys by Michael Lewis. The book is about how high frequency traders game the stock market exchanges - very complex systems - by front running purchase orders by a millionth of a millisecond. “Front running” is like tapping the right shoulder of the person in front of … [Read more...] about 18 ways to fail