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Publication - Policy Brief
Barriers to tax compliance for medium, small, and micro enterprises (MSMEs) in Zambia
This study examines the barriers that contribute to the low levels of tax compliance among MSMEs in Zambia. The brief presents findings from an original survey conducted among 1390 respondents in 52 market hubs in Lusaka and Central province of Zambia. The researcher finds a tax compliance rate of on average 30 percent among these MSMEs. The findings reveal...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Horticulture, and wood and furniture industries in Tanzania: Performance, challenges, and potential policy approaches
Manufacturing has long been considered an engine of economic growth and socio-economic development. Today, several developing countries are looking for the right industries that can trigger structural transformation. This brief discusses the cases of two agro-processing industries in Tanzania: horticultural processing, and wood and furniture. It discusses their...
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Publication - Policy Brief
The bigger the better: Using lotteries to identify the allocative efficiency effects of firm size
Governments around the world provide economic incentives to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are typically favoured in tax and regulatory policy and are often targeted in public procurement and business development programmes. Such policies are based on the belief that SMEs need help to grow out of inefficiently small sizes. Public procurement...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Policy brief: Using administrative data to measure the productivity and allocation of health workers and funds: Lessons from Ghana
Since 2018, doctors and administrators from the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and academics from the University of Oxford have been working together to understand which health facilities personnel should be deployed to in order to have the greatest impact on health. This project undertook a government-academia collaboration using Ghana’s District Health Information...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Teacher gender and the gender gap in education: The case of Mozambique primary schools
Mozambique is characterised by a substantial gender gap in education and male dominance in the teaching profession. This study investigates the relationship between the relative lack of female teachers and the gender gap in education across the universe of Mozambican schools. Using data from the annual school census (2004-2017), the authors document a small negative...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Energy efficiency in smallholder agriculture: Do micro‐irrigation systems deliver?
Promoting energy efficiency is a global priority, as it has promise to slow carbon emissions, aid in expanding energy access, and spur economic growth. However, investments in energy efficiency do not always deliver the expected benefits. Micro-irrigation systems are a widely promoted efficient technology with the potential to improve both water and energy efficiency...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Do taxes affect firm-to-firm trade? Evidence from India
Intra-national trade costs are large in developing countries; gains from better integration of supply chains within these countries are potentially substantial. This study considers how the Value Added Tax (VAT) affects intra-national firm-to-firm trade in the state of West Bengal, India. Using rich data on the universe of the 180,000 firms paying taxes in the state...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Returns to work are lower in developing countries: Is it due to their sectoral and urban structure?
Developing economies have more workers in sectors or locations where there may be less scope for learning, thus, this brief asks whether their economic and urban structure could explain their lower levels of economic development? This study obtains measures of returns to work experience across various dimensions using data from 23 million individuals in more than...
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Publication - Policy Brief
How do credit and psychology affect the adoption of profitable energy efficient technologies in Kenya?
Energy efficient technologies are often cited for their potential to meet sustainable development goals by slowing greenhouse gas emissions and generating financial savings for households living in poverty, but adoption of energy efficient technologies remains low. This study conducts a randomised experiment with 1,000 low-income households in Nairobi. The authors...
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Publication - Policy Brief
Opportunities for agriculture insurance in Mozambique
Weather-related risks such as drought, flood, and hail can cause irreversible damage to households and affect food security. They are complemented by a large number of additional constraints, such as limited technical knowledge, lack of processing capacity, high exposure to pests and diseases, limited access to finance and markets, and high risk of price volatility. ...
Publication - Growth Brief
Saving microfinance through innovative lending
The traditional microfinance model has had limited impact on the income and productivity of borrowers. More innovative and flexible lending models can boost entrepreneurship and welfare.