Biomass is still the dominant source of energy used by most rural households in the developing world. Current use patterns have been linked to adverse effects on forest resources. Alternative fuels such as kerosene could mitigate these negative effects. In order to design policies that enhance...

Social networks play a vital role in generating social learning and information exchange that can drive the diffusion of new financial innovations. This is particularly relevant for developing countries where education, extension and financial information services are underprovided. The recent...

Over the last 10 years mobile money has emerged as an important innovation with a potential to increase financial access in developing countries. Mobile money is making an important contribution to financial inclusion in many ways. First, it’s increasing access to financial services to a large...

Despite the fact that the use of mobile money technology has been spreading rapidly in developing countries, empirical studies on the broader welfare effects of the technology on rural households are still limited. Using household survey data, we analyse the effect of mobile money on household...

Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a technology package consisting of the joint use of improved seeds, organic and inorganic fertilizers. It is increasingly promoted to enhance soil fertility, crop productivity and income of smallholder farmers. While studies find positive effects of...

Poverty remains a pressing problem in rural areas of the developing world. This is also true for India. Expanding the rural financial system with a focus on increasing access to credit has been an important approach for poverty alleviation in India. Nevertheless, there is empirical evidence and...