May 2020

PEP online courses build development economics capacity in Global South

134 researchers took a PEP online course this year, among whom 23 have been awarded a Graduate Microprogram Certificate in Development Economics from Université Laval (Canada). Although the 2020 session has ended, all the classes can been watched for free online.

PEP experts help lead Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey in South Africa

A member of the PEP Board of Directors and a PEP Research Fellow are helping to lead a collaborative research project on the social and economic impacts in South Africa of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Find out more

 

PEP expertise at work to support COVID-19 responsese worldwide

PEP-affililated experts support efforts to design effective policy responses to the COVID-19 crisis in Latin America and through ongoing research projects.

Find out more about PEP's response and join the conversation via the COVID-19 Policy Response discussion group on Facebook.

How the cost of mobile money is hindering uptake in the Gambia

In the Gambia, a large portion of the adult population is financially excluded, despite mobile money initiatives. A team of local PEP researchers conducted an experiment to investigate the barriers to mobile money adoption. They found that prices are a barrier to the adoption of digital financial services, even among middle-income households. Designing price schemes that work for users may increase mobile money adoption rates and lead to higher levels of financial inclusion. Additionally, information initiatives are needed to accompany new price schemes as fees are currently perceived as being too high.


Find out more in the PEP working paper 2020-17 and policy brief 208

Currency devaluation can help boost growth and employment in Bolivia

Bolivia seems to be heading towards an imminent currency crisis caused by its fixed nominal exchange rate. A team of local PEP researchers found that a policy to devalue the exchange rate while reducing government expenditures could help boost growth and employment in Bolivia. Short-term inflation is an inevitable result of devaluation but inflation rates increase the least when devaluation is accompanied by a fiscal adjustment.

Find out more in the PEP working paper 2020-08 and policy brief 210