Informal property rights and innovation in marketing practices among emerging-market micro-entrepreneurs Micro-entrepreneurs constitute the most common type of business in the world and marketing is the primary means by which they earn their livelihoods. In emerging markets there are a significant number of micro-entrepreneurs and many live precarious lives, characterised by poverty and potentially devastating…
Identifying determinants of cultural distance to overcome barriers The challenge Cultural distance between groups has important economic consequences. Ethno-linguistic fragmentation, for example, has been shown to reduce the provision of public goods, reduce social capital formation and increase the likelihood of conflict. This could ultimately reduce the gains to ethnic minorities of ‘moving to opportunity’…
Evidence from multinational firm presence in developing countries The challenge Multinational firms account for a significant part of resource allocation in the global economy. This is a particularly important issue in developing countries. Multinational firm investment in developing countries can often be associated with growth, however, these firms are often accused of exploiting local markets…
Providing real-time, market-based evidence on threats to institutional independence With the rise of political polarisation and populism in recent election cycles, attacks on national and international independent institutions (Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organisation) have increased. Analysing market-implied expectations around attacks by political leaders allows assessment of the credibility and severity of…
Examining the success of school expenditure in terms of economic payoff Africa has witnessed an unprecedented increase in access to education in the past decades. Nonetheless, manufacturing employment is tiny, innovation is weak and many large corporations ‘complain’ that there is a skill shortage. Thanks to large-scale school construction throughout the continent, many more children…
Is a low oil price only bad for renewables? The challenge Oil and gas firms respond to high oil prices by investing in exploration and production within the industry. Following an oil price decline, however, they face a shortage in investment opportunities and stall production. Such downturns affect both oil and gas producers and the…
We are seeking to understand, illuminate and offer solutions to the challenges created by COVID-19. Through the Wheeler Institute COVID-19 series, we want to identify the role of business in addressing these challenges, with a focus on the implications and actions for those in developing countries.
Improving poorer populations’ chances of getting necessary care The challenge A low attendance rate for urgent, high-consequence treatment is prevalent in the developing world. In poorer countries, ignorance about the illnesses people have, allied to the financial costs of attending for treatment, are two of the main reasons why they fail to show up for…
Evaluating a private-sector initiative to increase technology adoption Of the 14% of the world’s population that live without access to modern electricity, 95% live in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Studies have shown that clean-energy technologies such as solar-powered lighting and cook stoves can increase income and save household energy costs in emerging markets. Rooftop solar-technology…
The political economy of displacement and refugee flows Large-scale population movements disrupt the economies and social fabrics of many countries. Understanding how substantial populations of involuntarily displaced individuals fare economically and how host communities are affected is crucial. This research explores the developmental impacts of refugee flows and the effect on host communities, and whether…