This podcast covers Lakshmi and my recent article in the Journal of Development Economics. This paper examines the long-run economic effects of colonial rule in India. We conclude that targeted public policy can counteract the negative effects of colonialism.
Today, the University of Delaware Board of Trustees unanimously voted to appoint Laura A. Carlson as the institution’s 29th president, effective Jan. 1, 2026.
Read the full announcement: brnw.ch/21wYdv0
Woke up yesterday with a paper being accepted - great way to start the day!
Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving
📢 Now hiring predoc Research Associates for the BIG Lab!
🔬Collaborate on development research projects with Notre Dame faculty! Deadline: 12/31/25
✍ Learn more and apply: buff.ly/BjAcByg
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We have completed another semi-regular update of our featured faculty publications wall in the department. This go-round, we are highlighting publications from Taryn Dinkelman @taryndinkelman.bsky.social; Lakshmi Iyer + grad student @colesonweir.bsky.social; @cmatthes.bsky.social; and Davin Raiha.
Kasey Buckles @kaseybuckles.bsky.social and graduate student Haley Wilbert (@hwilbert.bsky.social on the mkt) have a new publication in Explorations in Economic History, "Breakthroughs in Historical Record Linking Using Genealogy Data: The Census Tree Project." www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Register Now! Registration for the BIG Forum at Notre Dame closes September 12 - this Friday.
We will have keynotes by Dean Karlan, Ted Miguel and Pete Klenow and great sessions looking at development through the lenses of micro, macro and political economy.
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Looking forward to the great line up of speakers next month. Register below!
Our results imply that a non-partisan redistricting commission and a transparent process can achieve a politically neutral redrawing of electoral boundaries.
@ndecon.bsky.social @keoughglobalnd.bsky.social
The extent of electoral redistricting does not impact the probability an incumbent will recontest after redistricting, aside from explicit reservations for SC/ST. Redistricting had the same impact on candidates of the ruling and non-ruling parties. 4/4
In Andhra Pradesh, some members of the delimitation commission were able to avoid unfavorable redistricting. Other than these members, there was minimal political influence in the redistricting process. 3/4
The variance of populations across electoral constituencies shrank in both Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan following redistricting. 2/4
🚨 New working paper 🚨
With Lakshmi Iyer and Susan Ostermann. We examine whether there was political influence in India's redistricting process, and how this affects the probability politicians recontest their seat 1/4
Paper Link: drive.google.com/file/d/1boGg...
We conclude that post-colonial policies targeted towards under-served areas can mitigate the impact of colonial institutions over time. 6/6
Consequently, non-landlord areas continue to have higher levels of consumption and educational attainment and lower mortality and poverty rates compared to landlord areas. 5/6
Within directly ruled areas, colonial land tenure systems caused differences in agricultural productivity and investment through 1987. These outcomes have only partially converged. Convergence is seen in areas where target policy was implemented. 4/6
While the quantity of public goods has converged between directly and indirectly ruled areas, the quality of services (as measured by mortality and school completion) has not converged yet, but are trending towards convergence. 3/6
In 1981, disparities in public goods including schools, health centers, and roads resulted from direct colonial rule in India. By 2011, these disparities have been eliminated following public policy targeted towards equalization of public goods. 2/6
Thrilled our paper "The Colonial Legacy in India: How Persistent are the Effects of Historical Institutions?" is forthcoming at the JDE. We examine how historical institutions continue to shape development today. Colonial legacies can dissipate through targeted public policy. 1/6
Aid saves lives
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The Demographic and Heath Survey program received their USAID termination email last night
www.linkedin.com/posts/caren-...
USAID What’s Happening & Why it Matters
What can you do about the assault on USAID?
Share this far and wide. Do your part! Please do retweet 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼
Excited to see Lakshmi and my work cited in Simon Johnson’s Nobel Lecture this past week! Great way to end the semester.
Link to clip of Johnson's lecture: youtube.com/clip/Ugkxu2-...
@ndecon.bsky.social @biglabnd.bsky.social
One more for the inequality researchers. Writing a book and looking to read research/work from scholars thinking deeply on the topic of socioeconomic inequality. Please reply if you'd like to be added. Viewing this as a really convenient bibliography (thanks @bsky.app): go.bsky.app/L6iReaW
I keep adding development economists to this starter pack. If you haven't looked in a while there should be lots of new people. #econsky #devecon
If this is all new to you, there's also a part 1 on my bio. Let me know if I should add you, a friend, a job market candidate, etc.
go.bsky.app/2RbAeCP
@ndecon.bsky.social @biglabnd.bsky.social
Presented at the Legacies Workshop in Trondheim hosted by @ntnu-iss.bsky.social . Great presentations and work on the long-run effects of historical institutions. Thoroughly enjoyed my time in Norway!
I am putting together a starter pack with researchers working on the Economic History of Africa. Let me know if you’d like to be included!
go.bsky.app/EmGLkbT
I’d love to be added, thanks!