I estimate the causal effects of demand shocks, stemming from government procurement, on the growth of small firms in Ecuador. I assemble a unique dataset using several new administrative sources and, as identification strategy, exploit a governmental procurement process that allocates public...

Introduction: the choices for wealth over health of nations -- 1. For economic growth and individualism over the land: Adam Smith -- 2. For deductive method and rent over poor relief: David Ricardo and Thomas Malthus -- 3. For maximizing wealth with social redistribution over production reform:...