Exposure to extremes in weather during childhood and adulthood has increasingly well-known effects. Since those extremes are becoming more frequent, researchers and policymakers are working on ways to ameliorate their effects. But what about the effects of weather extremes on human gestation and infancy? Although the womb provides a degree of protection from the outside world, … [Read more...] about A Climate for Infant Health
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A Call for Development: When a Phone Alone Can Alleviate Poverty
While the technology world is caught in a flurry of speculation about the potential new features of the next iPhone, expected to be released in late September, a simple mobile phone with basic features is having a meaningful impact as a tool to alleviate poverty in the developing world. When it comes to the poor, telephony is the Information and Telecommunications Technology … [Read more...] about A Call for Development: When a Phone Alone Can Alleviate Poverty
The Littlest Victims of Crime
Children are a mother’s— and a country’s— greatest treasure. Yet they too are victims of violence, often indirectly through their mothers. The repercussions of violence against these littlest victims in society are far reaching. Compromising their health and happiness is not only an emotional issue, but an important economic issue as well and was studied in the context of a … [Read more...] about The Littlest Victims of Crime
Raising Tax Revenues on a Tight Budget: A Field Experiment in the Pampas
Policymakers may have big plans like extending a highway or starting a new social assistance program. Then again, they may have more modest plans such as meeting payrolls or maintaining existing infrastructure and levels of service. Realizing any of those plans requires a dependable stream of revenue, usually including taxes on individuals’ income and property. In an ideal … [Read more...] about Raising Tax Revenues on a Tight Budget: A Field Experiment in the Pampas
Using Technology in Education: How Can We Identify Effective Programs?
By: Elena Arias Ortiz and Julian Cristia As a follow-up to our blog post regarding raising more awareness about the importance of evaluations, today we’d like to share with you the impact of evaluating the best way to incorporate educational technologies in Latin America and the Caribbean (the region). Governments in the region have implemented a wide range of initiatives to … [Read more...] about Using Technology in Education: How Can We Identify Effective Programs?