
Christopher Woodruff
Professor of Development Economics, University of Oxford; CEPR Research Fellow
Christopher Woodruff is Professor of Development Economics and a Fellow at Wolfson College.
He is the Scientific Coordinator for the DFID – CEPR joint research venture on Private Enterprise Development in Low Income Countries (PEDL) and directs the Firm Capabilities group at the International Growth Centre. In addition to his position at Oxford, Professor Woodruff is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER), a Research Fellow at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), and a Senior Fellow of the Bureau of Research on Economic Analysis and Development (BREAD), a Research Fellow at the Center for Competitive Advantage and the Global Economy (CAGE) and the Institute for the Study of Labor (IZA).
His research focuses on enterprises in low-income countries, with noted work on returns to capital investments in microenterprises and the effect of formal registration on enterprise performance. He is a pioneer in the use of field experiments in firms. He currently holds an Advanced Grant from the European Research Council for work measuring productivity in the readymade garment sector, with a particular focus on the challenges women face in moving into supervisory positions in the Bangladeshi garment sector.
Recent work by Christopher Woodruff
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Training entrepreneurs
This VoxDevLit reviews innovative research out there on training entrepreneurs
David McKenzie Christopher Woodruff
Published 02.12.20
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What works in training entrepreneurs?
The first VoxDevLit highlights the role of research in generating innovation in approaches to training entrepreneurs
Christopher Woodruff David McKenzie
Published 01.12.20
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The limited effect of a mobile-linked deposit service on increasing savings: Evidence from Sri Lanka
A digital mobile-deposit service reduced deposit transaction costs but did not increase savings
Suresh De Mel Craig McIntosh Ketki Sheth Christopher Woodruff
Published 27.11.20
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Speeding up justice: The reform that transformed Mexico’s labour courts
How research helped improve the effectiveness of Mexico’s judiciary system and influenced the country’s largest labour law reform in a century
Video : Institutions & Political Economy
Published 16.12.19
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Information is power: Evidence from Mexico City’s Labour Court
Providing personalised information on predicted case outcomes to parties in ongoing cases improved court efficiency and achieved better settlements
Articles : Institutions & Political Economy
Joyce Sadka Enrique Seira Christopher Woodruff
Published 12.07.19
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Breaking gender-barriers: How women are becoming managers
How do we get more women in senior positions? Chris Woodruff shares insights from the Bangladeshi garment industry
Published 03.10.18
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What is holding firms back?
Chris Woodruff explains why improving management practices is critical for the growth of the private sector in developing countries.
Published 01.03.18
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What is holding firms back?
Chris Woodruff explains why improving management practices is critical for the growth of the private sector in developing countries.
Published 01.03.18
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Lending to female-owned small enterprises in Sri Lanka and Ghana
Investment in small firms led to monthly returns of 6% in Sri Lanka. However, the returns are negligible for female-owned enterprises.
Published 18.12.17