The effect of colonisation on Africa’s modernisation is a highly contentious and emotional debate. The reality is trickier than you think.

Caste-based reservations in government jobs and colleges in India resulted in potential future beneficiaries staying in school longer

Evidence from China shows tax revenues increase in the short run from better enforcement, but these increases decrease over time as firms downsize

Removing barriers to internal migration can boost a country’s productivity, albeit modestly and with heterogonous effects on original populations

The arrival of the steamship benefitted some countries but not others, with the strength and inclusiveness of institutions playing a key role

A cheap intervention increased firm registration but failed to impact tax registration, negating potential tax revenue

Allowing foreign retailers to operate in Mexico leads substantial overall welfare gains, in spite of their impacts on local employment and income

A study finds that while family planning has either no effect or a slightly positive one on elderly Chinese parents’ physical health, it can be...

Congestion in Indian courts of justice distorts firms’ organisation and sourcing decisions and lowers aggregate productivity