December 2019 - January 2020

PEP national policy conference in Ethiopia
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | December 23, 2019

A team of local PEP researchers held a national policy conference to discuss how urbanization is improving household welfare in Ethiopia, and what can be done so that more people benefit.

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Immediate public and policy responses to PEP Research Fellows' studies 
Argentina & Brazil | January 2020

Two PEP-supported studies conducted by Research Fellows in Latin America have sparked immediate policy and media responses.

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New Year's message from PEP's
leadership team - January 2020

PEP's Chair of the Board and Executive Director reflect on the accomplishments of 2019 and look forward to the opportunities 2020 will bring for PEP and PEP researchers.
 

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2020 edition of PEP online courses is underway - January-April 2020

More than 120 analysts from 37 countries are taking part in this year's PEP online courses in Applied Development Economics. The courses are offered in French and English, in collaboration with Université Laval in Canada.

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Improving entrepreneurs’ interpersonal skills to increase SME revenues in Liberia

The Liberian SME sector represents about 96% of the country’s business entities. However, many SMEs slumped during the Ebola outbreak and the owners have “inadequate business skills and knowledge” to revive the businesses. A PEP research team designed a randomized control experiment to assess the effect of business management and interpersonal relations training on SME business performance and customer loyalty and satisfaction. Their findings suggest that policies to encourage a customer-driven approach through soft-skills training can increase SME revenues, a driver for business and economic growth in Liberia. Find out more through the PEP working paper 2019-24 and policy brief 200

More recent PEP findings

How can promoting trade maximize labor market benefits?

Recent trade liberalization policies have been influenced by the belief that trade contributes to growth and employment. However, evidence from industrialized countries suggests that the effects of trade on labor markets are not always positive. These effects are increasingly felt in developing countries. The slowdown in international trade following the 2008 global economic crisis has contributed to increased unemployment and informality. These events have raised interest in better understanding the effects of trade promotion on labor markets. Several PEP research projects have contributed to filling this knowledge gap, providing insights on how to maximize gains and welfare from trade.

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POLICY BRIEF
How the fertilizer subsidy program can boost economic growth and employment in Ghana

WORKING PAPER
Skills Training and Business Outcomes: Experimental Evidence from Liberia

 

POLICY BRIEF
Urbanization is improving household welfare in Ethiopia

 

JOURNAL ARTICLE
Risk tolerance, gender, and entrepreneurship: The Palestinian case
In the Review of Development Economics

PEP national policy conferences in Ethiopia and Benin

To RCT or not, is not the question: Methods for policy-relevant research on gender equality

A new article published in World Development (Vol 127, March 2020) co-authored by IDRC's Arjan de Haan and Gillian Dowie, and PEP's Executive Director, Jane Mariara.
 

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Call for proposals: J-PAL Digital Identification and Finance Initiative in Africa

The initiative aims to grow the evidence base around innovations in identification and payments by supporting governments in their efforts to monitor and evaluate relevant reforms. Deadline for submission is March 20, 2020

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Decent Jobs for Youth Knowledge Facility launched

Partners of the UN Global Initiative on Decent Jobs for Youth launch knowledge facility and data finder on youth employment.
 

 

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