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Episode 220

“I Don’t Know What You’ve Done With My Husband But He’s a Changed Man”

From domestic abusers to former child soldiers, there is increasing evidence that behavioral therapy can turn them around.


Random Lives in Northern Uganda

…evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Chris Blattman, an economist, and Jeannie Annan, a psychologist, are two of the lead researchers on the WINGS study and have been working together…



Is Picking Kiwi Fruit the Answer?

…as a recent evaluation by New Zealand’s labor department found, these gains came with minimal displacement of native workers, and overstay rates of less than 1%.” (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



International Aid and Mobile Cash Transfers

…not all) by mobile phone, particularly to recipients in difficult-to-reach locations. So readers, what do you think? Are there any drawbacks to this method of dispensing aid? (HT: Chris Blattman)…



Some Maps That Changed the World

…Alas, William Smith’s geological survey of the U.K., known to fans of Simon Winchester as, literally, The Map That Changed the World, didn’t make the cut. (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



Year-End Clearance: All Medical Myths Must Go!

…might give you imaginary Restless Leg Syndrome. Happy New Year to all and feel free to share your favorite medical myths in the comment section below. (Hat tip: Chris Blattman)…



Smallpox as Art

…artificial coloring of scientific imagery affects our understanding of phenomena.” His sculptures of H.I.V. and swine flu, among others, will be exhibited this month in London. (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



Where Oil Spills Happen All the Time

…difference in the response to oil spills. In Nigeria, both companies and government have come to treat an extraordinary level of oil spills as the norm.” (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



Alcohol 101

…the trend – better-educated women may have more active social lives, may have children later in life, and may face different cultural norms of alcohol consumption. (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



The New and Improved Coup d'etat

…they write. “In the post-Cold War era those countries that are most dependent on Western aid have been the first to embrace competitive elections after the coup.” (HT: Chris Blattman)…



Not So Random After All

…is likely to land on the same side it started on at least 51 percent of the time, possibly more depending on the person doing the flipping. (HT: Chris Blattman)[%comments]…



To Fight Malaria, Skip the Beer?

…authors conclude that “beer consumption is a risk factor for malaria and needs to be integrated into public health policies for the design of control measures.” (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



When Radio Kills

…i.e. villages with lower literacy rates. In total, Yanagizawa calculates that the radio station’s broadcasts explain 45,000 deaths (or 9 percent of the total death toll). (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



Of God and Money

…contribute money to a public pool. The Protestants also worked hardest for wages in a labor market game. Consider it evidence for the Protestant work ethic. (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



To Test or Not to Test

…Check out here for the results here. Bottom line: hearing about positive results elsewhere helps bring in more partners for more research. Negative results drives folks away. (HT: Chris Blattman)…



Is the "Natural Resource Curse" Not Quite True?

…contrary to popular belief, “increases in resource reliance are not associated with authoritarianism.” And in fact, may in many specifications, “generate results that suggest a resource blessing.” (HT: Chris Blattman)…



Can Organic Veggies Transform Education?

…creamy coconut fish and Mexican bean wraps…” reports The Guardian. “Authorized absences” also fell by 15%. Unfortunately, the poorest children didn’t seem to benefit from the program. (HT: Chris Blattman)[%comments]…




Why McDonald's Hamburgers Don't Rot

…It’s not really surprising. Humans have known about this phenomenon for thousands of years. After all, how do you think beef jerky is made?” (HT: Chris Blattman) *Interestingly, the McDonald’s…



The Economics of Economics Blogs

…Aid Watch, Chris Blattman, NYT’s Economix, Marginal Revolution, and Paul Krugman. Using stats from Research Papers in Economics, it found spikes after blogs cover a paper. For us, they found…



Why Does College Take so Long These Days?

…authors also found that students are working more hours in response to rising costs. Low-income students and students at less-selective institutions are particularly vulnerable to the trend. (HT: Chris Blattman)[%comments]…



The Biggest Bang for the Climate-Change Buck?

…returns include pasture management, geothermal energy, pastureland afforestation, reforestation of degraded forests, plug-in hybrid cars, solar energy, power plant biomass co-firing and capture carbon and storage. (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



Dutch Gold Diggers, With Government Approval

…husband to support them.” Participants in the scheme will receive tips on hair, wardrobe and social and presentation skills. Perhaps the infamous Craigslist gold-digger should consider relocating. (HT: Chris Blattman)[%comments]…



Does Raising the Minimum Wage Increase Unemployment?

…an accompanying drop in employment. This indicates that wages may have indeed been below marginal products in the 1990s, reducing coordination and creating an opening for policy. (HT: Chris Blattman)…



E-ZPass Is a Life-Saver (Literally)

…among mothers within 2km of a toll plaza by 6.7-9.1% and 8.5-11.3% respectively, with larger effects for African-Americans, smokers, and those very close to toll plazas.” (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…




Paris Subways Get a Makeover

…included: “Posters on the walls continue the vibe with trompe l’oeil cabinets and bookshelves.” We wonder: who should handle the same service in New York City subways? (HT: Chris Blattman)[%comments]…



Anti-Poverty Nudges

…to the doctor, and encouraging school attendance among younger children. Families have been less successful at other things, like finding work and improving children’s test scores. (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…



Sesame Street, Nigerian Style

…toast it. I can boil it. I love yams!” Another muppet is “an orphan with HIV who explains blood safety to children through her own story.”? (HT: Chris Blattman) [%comments]…