Similar Search Results

African Export Successes: Surprises, Stylized Facts, and Explanations

Easterly, William; Reshef, Ariell - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2010

We establish the following stylized facts: (1) Exports are characterized by Big Hits, (2) the Big Hits change from one period to the next, and (3) these changes are not explained by global factors like global commodity prices. These conclusions are robust to excluding extractable products (oil...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10008765616

Empirical Studies of Innovation in the Knowledge Driven Economy

Hall, Bronwyn H; MAIRESSE, Jacques - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2006

innovation and knowledge management and their impact on performance at the firm level for a number of countries. These studies … have been conducted using data drawn from innovation surveys combined with data from a number of other sources. The issue … illustrates the value of these surveys in improving our understanding of innovation in firms and raises a number of questions for …

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005050393

Was the Wealth of Nations Determined in 1000 B.C.?

Comin, Diego; Easterly, William; Gong, Erick - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2006

We assemble a dataset on technology adoption in 1000 B.C., 0 A.D., and 1500 A.D. for the predecessors to today's nation states. We find that this very old history of technology adoption is surprisingly significant for today's national development outcomes. Although our strongest results are for...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005575665

Measuring the Returns to R&D

Hall, Bronwyn H; MAIRESSE, Jacques; Mohnen, Pierre - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2009

We review the econometric literature on measuring the returns to R&D. The theoretical frameworks that have been used are outlined, followed by an extensive discussion of measurement and econometric issues that arise when estimating the models. We then provide a series of tables summarizing the...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10008624599

Under the Thumb of History? Political Institutions and the Scope for Action

Duflo, Esther; Banerjee, Abhijit - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2014

This paper discusses the two leading views of history and political institutions. For some scholars, institutions are mainly products of historical logic, while for others, accidents, leaders, and decisions have a significant impact. We argue that while there is clear evidence that history...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10010951199

Peer Effects, Teacher Incentives, and the Impact of Tracking: Evidence from a Randomized Evaluation in Kenya

Duflo, Esther; Kremer, Michael; Dupas, Pascaline - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2008

To the extent that students benefit from high-achieving peers, tracking will help strong students and hurt weak ones. However, all students may benefit if tracking allows teachers to present material at a more appropriate level. Lower-achieving pupils are particularly likely to benefit from...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005248909

Women's Empowerment and Economic Development

Duflo, Esther - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2011

Women's empowerment and economic development are closely related: in one direction, development alone can play a major role in driving down inequality between men and women; in the other direction, empowering women may benefit development. Does this imply that pushing just one of these two...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10009403418

Superpower Interventions and their Consequences for Democracy: An Empirical Inquiry

Easterly, William; Satyanath, Shanker; Berger, Daniel - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2008

Do superpower interventions to install and prop up political leaders in other countries subsequently result in more or less democracy, and does this effect vary depending on whether the intervening superpower is democratic or authoritarian? While democracy may be expected to decline...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005720545

Powerful Women: Does Exposure Reduce Bias?

Duflo, Esther; Pande, Rohini; Beaman, Lori A.; … - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2008

We exploit random assignment of gender quotas across Indian village councils to investigate whether having a female chief councillor affects public opinion towards female leaders. Villagers who have never been required to have a female leader prefer male leaders and perceive hypothetical female...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005777665

Can the West Save Africa?

Easterly, William - National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) - 2008

In the new millennium, the Western aid effort towards Africa has surged due to writings by well-known economists, a celebrity mass advocacy campaign, and decisions by Western leaders to make Africa a major foreign policy priority. This survey contrasts the predominant "transformational" approach...

Persistent link: https://www.econbiz.de/10005777960