Institutions & Political Economy

The evidence gap on evidence use

Michelle Rao on evidence use, how evaluations shape funding, and a key evidence gap in development economics.

Michelle Rao Oliver Hanney

Published

26.05.26

The lasting economic impacts of war

Wars leave deep and lasting scars on economies. Using data for 115 conflicts across 145 countries over the past 75 years, we document large and persistent declines in output, investment, and trade following the onset of war, with no evidence of recov...

Institutions & Political Economy

Efraim Benmelech Joao Monteiro

Published

18.05.26

Ed Glaeser on the perfect city, the demons of density and what makes cities work

What does a perfect city look like in a low- or middle-income country – and how do you get there?

Institutions & Political Economy

Edward Glaeser

Published

12.05.26

Women, Life, Freedom: How the 2022 protest movement reshaped Iran

Iran’s 2022 protest movement, ‘Women, Life, Freedom’, revealed the extent of public support for women’s rights. The regime made no legal concessions, yet behaviour changed.

Institutions & Political Economy

Avenia Ghazarian

Published

26.05.26

C’est la Vie! How a popular West African edutainment series changed minds, but not behaviours

A West African TV series in Senegal led to short- and medium-term gains in knowledge and attitudes around violence against women and sexual and reproductive health, though impacts on behaviours were limited, and a podcast version extending content du...

Institutions & Political Economy

Malick Dione Jessica Heckert Melissa Hidrobo Agnès Le Port Amber Peterman Moustapha Seye

Published

12.05.26

Leonard Wantchekon on youth, governance and Africa's urban future

Why Leonard Wantchekon is hopeful for Africa's urban future.

Institutions & Political Economy

Leonard Wantchekon Oliver Hanney Kurtis Lockhart

Published

05.05.26

How the encomienda shaped Colombia's long-run development

In Colombia, municipalities subjected to the Spanish encomienda – a colonial system of forced indigenous labour – are wealthier and better governed today, in spite of the extractive institution imposed on them.

Institutions & Political Economy

Jean-Paul Faguet Fabio Sánchez

Published

05.05.26

Understanding development in the long run: Cracks in the consensus on institutions?

New evidence from colonial history is challenging the consensus that extractive institutions always harm long-run development, showing that outcomes depend on whether extraction left behind durable public infrastructure and state capacity.

Institutions & Political Economy

Jean-Paul Faguet Fabio Sánchez

Published

05.05.26

The Future of Development: Approaches and Partnerships for a New Reality

Institutions & Political Economy

Mark Suzman Mark Green Gyude Moore Vera Songwe

28.04.26

What comes next? A conversation with Gates Foundation CEO and development leaders

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