Climate Change and Economic Inequality

The Wheeler Institute recognises Diego Kaenzig’s research. Climate change is the defining problem of our time, posing significant threats not only to our lives, livelihoods and the environment, but also to the global economy. Fighting climate change, however, has proved very difficult because of its global nature and the pervasive externalities involved. Ultimately, climate change…

Impact of infrastructure improvements in India

Assessing reality of ‘trickle-down’ benefits of greater connectivity for rural households The challenge Increasing infrastructure investment is a key growth strategy in many developing countries; policy debates emphasise the ‘trickle-down’ benefits of such investment. However, there is a gap in our understanding of what type of infrastructure affects individuals’ ability to actualise such opportunities. It…

When bulldozers loom

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…

Measuring attitudes towards African-Americans using machine learning and textual data

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’…

Foreign aid through domestic tax reforms?

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…

Institutional independence and social media

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…