|
on Development |
| By: | Sabine Bacouël-Jentjens (ISC Paris Business School); Grégory Levieuge (Banque de France); José Riascos (University of Orléans); Camelia Turcu (University of Orléans) |
| Abstract: | This paper investigates the impact of mining on sustainable development in Mexico. Specifically, it examines whether mining affects different dimensions of sustainable development, including consumption patterns, inequalities, education, and environmental quality. Using household data on 2, 403 municipalities over a period of 30 years considering four waves of census data (1990, 2000, 2010, 2020), we find that the mining sector has mixed effects on sustainable development. It has a limited positive effect on the income of neighboring households but it also generates negative environmental spillovers. We do not find significant effects on inequalities or education. Overall, our study provides a more nuanced understanding of the impact of mining on various aspects of sustainable development, contributing to ongoing debates on the relationship between natural resource extraction and sustainable development in emerging economies. |
| Keywords: | Sustainable development, environment, extractive industry, Mexico |
| JEL: | Q |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inf:wpaper:2023.17&r=dev |
| By: | Dincecco, Mark (University of Michigan); Fenske, James (University of Warwick); Gupta, Bishnupriya (University of Warwick); Menon, Anil (University of California) |
| Abstract: | We study the relationship between exposure to historical conflict involving heavy weaponry and male-favoring gender norms. We argue that the physical nature of such conflict produced cultural norms favoring males and male offspring. We focus on spatial variation in gender norms across India, a dynamic developing economy in which gender inequality persists. We show robust evidence that areas with high exposure to pre-colonial conflict are significantly more likely to exhibit malefavoring gender norms as measured by male-biased sex ratios and crimes against women. We document how conflict-related gender norms have been transmitted over time via male-favoring folkloric traditions, the gender identity of temple gods, and male-biased marriage practices, and have been transmitted across space by migrants originally from areas with high conflict exposure. |
| Keywords: | War ; Gender Norms ; Cultural Beliefs ; Development ; India, History JEL Codes: J16 ; N45 ; 011 ; P46 ; Z13 |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:wrk:warwec:1491&r=dev |
| By: | Oded Galor; Marc Kemp; Daniel C. Wainstock |
| Abstract: | Evidence suggests that the prehistoric out-of-Africa Migration has impacted the degree of intra-population genetic and phenotypic diversity across the globe. This paper provides the first evidence that this migration has shaped cultural diversity. Leveraging a folklore catalogue of 958 oral traditions across the world, we find that ethnic groups further away from East Africa along the migratory routes have lower folkloric diversity. This pattern is consistent with the compression of genetic, phenotypic, and phonemic traits along the out-of-Africa migration routes, setting conditions for the emergence and proliferation of differential cultural diversity and economic development across the world. |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:bro:econwp:2023-002&r=dev |
| By: | West Togbetse (Université d’Orléans); Camelia Turcu |
| Abstract: | In this study, we assess the effect of natural resources on FDI flows to Africa within the energy transition context. To do this, and given China’s growing presence in Africa, we focus only on China as a main investor in Africa. We analyze its outward FDI flows, at micro and macro level to 30 African countries over a 19-year period (2000 to 2018). Our results show that not all natural resources are attractive factors for FDI. Mineral resources and natural gas were found to be key determinants of Chinese FDI while oil resources have a negative impact on Chinese FDI flows to Africa. These results might suggest an engagement in the energy transition process which requires specific mineral resources. |
| Keywords: | FDI , natural resources, energy transition |
| JEL: | F |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inf:wpaper:2023.15&r=dev |
| By: | West Togbetse (Université d’Orléans); Camelia Turcu |
| Abstract: | In the context of climate change, countries need natural resources for their development and energy transition process. A large share of these resources is based in emerging and developing countries. Within this framework, we investigate whether natural resources endowment has become a key determinant in the allocation of development aid. We put a specific focus on China, which has started to have a proactive role in international aid to other countries, although it is still an emerging economy. In particular, we analyze whether China is increasingly granting aid to countries well endowed with natural resources and if this official development assistance is motivated by economic interests, mainly those related to natural resources. To do so, we use two sets of data: an original database at the country level, covering the period 2000-2016, and geocoded data on 1650 Chinese development projects across 2969 physical locations in Africa over the period 1999-2013. We built thus our analysis at a macro and microeconomic level. Our results show that the aid granted by China can be linked to access to natural resources. |
| Keywords: | Foreign aid, natural resources, energy transition |
| JEL: | F Q |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:inf:wpaper:2023.16&r=dev |
| By: | Mora-Garcia, Claudio A (INCAE Business School); Prem, Mounu (Einaudi Institute for Economics and Finance, and CEPR); Rodriguez-Lesmes, Paul (Facultad de Economía Universidad del Rosario); Vargas, Juan F. (University of Turin (ESOMAS); Collegio Carlo Alberto) |
| Abstract: | Healthcare workers are in great deficit worldwide, especially in rural and vulnerable areas of developing countries. By leveraging a permanent ceasefire that ended over five decades of armed conflict between the Colombian government and the FARC insurgency, we study the extent to which conflict termination affected the health workforce gap between areas more exposed to FARC violence and other places. Based on individual-level administrative records of all healthcare workers in Colombia and a difference-in differences strategy, we find that the ceasefire caused a differential 11.4% decrease in the share of employed healthcare workers per 1, 000 people in places more exposed to FARC violence relative to the rest of the country. We find a stronger decrease among healthcare workers with less human capital levels and open-ended labor contracts. We show that this effect is likely explained by lifting mobility restrictions in previously violent areas, and document that, because the net reduction in healthcare workers increased the within-municipality share of (more productive) physicians, it did not translate into a deterioration of mortality rates or healthcare service provision. |
| Keywords: | healthcare workers; armed conflict; violence |
| JEL: | I12 I15 |
| Date: | 2024–04–10 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:col:000092:021124&r=dev |
| By: | Brambilla, Irene; César, Andrés; Falcone, Guillermo; Gasparini, Leonardo |
| Abstract: | This paper studies the effects of automation of production on labor market outcomes, and whether there is an effect of automation on functional and personal inequality in Latin America. The paper combines several data sources and empirical strategies in order to approach the issues from different perspectives and to cover different dimensions of labor markets. The main issues that we focus on are: i) the hypothesis that industries with a higher share of workers performing routine tasks are more likely to be affected by automation, using indexes of task routinization by occupation; and ii) the effects of automation on industry and local labor share, employment, wages, personal inequality and poverty. We focus on seven Latin American countries: Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru, during the period 1992-2015. |
| Keywords: | Automation;labor share;Labor markets;functional inequality;personal inequality;Latin America |
| JEL: | J21 J24 O33 |
| Date: | 2023–09 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:idb:brikps:13120&r=dev |
| By: | Moisés Obaco (Universidad Católica del Norte & FACEA & Departamento de Economía, Antofagasta, Chile); Daniel Davi-Arderius (Copenhagen School of Energy Infrastructure (CSEI), Copenhagen Business School, Denmark & University of Barcelona and Chair of Energy Sustainability & Barcelona Institute of Economics (IEB)); Nicola Pontarollo (Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia) |
| Abstract: | Developing countries are making great efforts to electrify residences to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and deal with climate change. In 2014, Ecuador launched a clean-cooking program known as the Programa de Cocción Eficiente (PCE) aimed at replacing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)-fired cookstoves and LPG-fired boilers with electric devices. Using an original dataset of monthly information (2015-2021) at the parish level, we study several important determinants of participation in this program that have not yet been addressed. We first model spatial spillovers and then investigate the impact of regional power quality and the effect of other subsidized programs related to electricity consumption. Our results show spillover effects for PCE participation with regard to cooking but not for the overall PCE participation rate. Higher participation is associated to better supply quality and with the use of other power subsidies. Policy recommendations include the need to perform detailed spatial analyof the determinants of participation in these programs, instead of using surveys, and designing programs using a placed-based approach, in addition to evaluating cross-sectional effects between subsidies in advance in order to avoid unforeseen trade-offs and considering the regulatory framework for utilities to provide effective incentives to improve supply quality. |
| Keywords: | Clean-cooking programs, Energy poverty, Spatial spillover effects, Power quality, Electrical reliability, Latin America, Developing countries, Ecuador |
| JEL: | Q01 Q43 Q52 Q56 |
| Date: | 2023 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:ieb:wpaper:doc2023-07&r=dev |
| By: | Ge, Shuning; Grossman, Guy; Kosec, Katrina; Lal, Apoorva; Laughlin, Benjamin |
| Abstract: | Taking advantage of Ghana’s gradual extension of cellphone towers in the early 2000s, we analyze the wealth effects of cellphone coverage expansion in a developing country setting using a difference-in-differences (event study) research design. We proxy local wealth using night-time light density over 1996–2016 and an asset ownership-based index from the 2000 and 2010 censuses. We find that cellphone coverage expansion significantly r raised wealth in Ghana. We then explore possible downstream effects of cellphone coverage expansion on electoral outcomes. We find no evidence that better off citizens reward incumbents, either in presidential or parliamentary elections. Using Afrobarometer survey data, this null finding appears to be because citizens do not give the government credit for economic improvements that are due to decisions made by private telecommunications companies. Further, increases in cellphone coverage significantly decrease vote-buying, which may be due to voters being harder to buy off when they are better off. |
| Keywords: | capacity development; mobile units; living standards; political aspects; Ghana; Africa; Sub-Saharan Africa; Western Africa |
| Date: | 2024 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:fpr:cgiarp:139138&r=dev |
| By: | Anusorn Minphimai |
| Abstract: | This study examines the impact of innovations in the payment system on household finance, focusing on consumption behaviors and financial literacy among low-income households. The investigation utilizes Thailand’s introduction of the cashless State Welfare Card to low-income households in 2017 as a quasi-experiment setting. The primary data sources for this study include the large-scale countrywide household socioeconomic survey (SES) conducted by Thailand’s National Statistical Office (NSO) and survey data from individuals in four provinces of Thailand. The empirical strategy in this study is primarily fuzzy regression discontinuity design. The results of the study reveal that individuals who receive the cashless State Welfare Card experience effective increases in consumption of the food and beverage items that are the target of the policy. Contrary to concerns about adverse impacts, such as overconsumption or using the card for unintended items like cigarettes, there is no evidence supporting these claims. Instead, people using the state welfare card exhibit better financial literacy and reduced risk-taking consumption behavior. The result underscores the importance of financial literacy training provided alongside the card. However, the study does not find sufficient evidence to suggest a significant impact on trust in the financial system. |
| Keywords: | Household Finance; Financial Technology; State Welfare Card; Fuzzy Regression Discontinuity Design |
| JEL: | E12 D12 D14 |
| Date: | 2024–04 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:pui:dpaper:219&r=dev |
| By: | Angelo D’Andrea; Patrick Hitayezu; Mr. Kangni R Kpodar; Nicola Limodio; Mr. Andrea F Presbitero |
| Abstract: | Combining administrative data on credit, internet penetration and a land reform in Rwanda, this paper shows that the complementarity between technology and law can overcome financial frictions. Leveraging quasi-experimental variation in 3G availability from lightning strikes and incidental coverage, we show that mobile connectivity steers borrowers from microfinance to commercial banks and improves loan terms. These effects are partly due to the role of 3G internet in facilitating the acquisition of land titles from the reform, used as a collateral for bank loans and mortgages. We quantify that the collateral's availability mediates 35% of the overall effect of mobile internet on credit and 80% for collateralized loans. |
| Keywords: | Banks; Credit; High-speed Internet; Mobile; Technological Change |
| Date: | 2024–03–29 |
| URL: | http://d.repec.org/n?u=RePEc:imf:imfwpa:2024/070&r=dev |