David McKenzie
@dmckenzie.bsky.social
Lead Economist at the World Bank’s Development Research Group
Development Impact blogger
https://sites.google.com/site/decrgdmckenzie/
Development Impact blogger
https://sites.google.com/site/decrgdmckenzie/
Pinned
David McKenzie
@dmckenzie.bsky.social
· Nov 15
I started a starter pack for World Bank researchers. Let me know if I am missing you go.bsky.app/BWMsQG6
In today's job market post, Sneha Nimmagadda shows in India that mothers misperceive how stunted their kids are, because so many other kids around are also stunted. Correcting this perception changes beliefs and feeding practices, increasing weight for age blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
When every child is stunted, no child Is? How local norms distort perceptions of growth: Guest post by Sneha Nimmagadda
blogs.worldbank.org
November 10, 2025 at 4:29 PM
In today's job market post, Sneha Nimmagadda shows in India that mothers misperceive how stunted their kids are, because so many other kids around are also stunted. Correcting this perception changes beliefs and feeding practices, increasing weight for age blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Our job market series continued on Friday: amenjalal.bsky.social shows revealing pay in online job applications reduces gender sorting in Pakistan. Large firms pay more, but are less likely to reveal salaries and offer less job flexibility. blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Amen Jalal (@amenjalal.bsky.social)
Economics PhD student at LSE; previously at Yale and World Bank. amenjalal.com (she/her)
amenjalal.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Our job market series continued on Friday: amenjalal.bsky.social shows revealing pay in online job applications reduces gender sorting in Pakistan. Large firms pay more, but are less likely to reveal salaries and offer less job flexibility. blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Today we start our job market paper blog series, with Grady Killeen providing an experiment in Kenya that shows how risk aversion keeps firms from introducing new products - a temporary returns policy got them to learn and adopt a new profitable product blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
When Risk Aversion Keeps Firms Small: Evidence from Kenyan Retailers: Guest post by Grady Killeen
blogs.worldbank.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Today we start our job market paper blog series, with Grady Killeen providing an experiment in Kenya that shows how risk aversion keeps firms from introducing new products - a temporary returns policy got them to learn and adopt a new profitable product blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
A special Wednesday links is now up, since it is the deadline for our blog your job market paper series today. I cover the new update of our VoxDevLit on business training, work on exporting, political polarization, and return migration, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
November 5, 2025 at 2:26 PM
A special Wednesday links is now up, since it is the deadline for our blog your job market paper series today. I cover the new update of our VoxDevLit on business training, work on exporting, political polarization, and return migration, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by David McKenzie
What have we learned about training entrepreneurs?
Issue 4 of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs by @dmckenzie.bsky.social, Christopher Woodruff & Co-Editors is out now!➡️ voxdev.org/voxdevlit/tr...
Today's podcast covers the update➡️ voxdev.org/topic/firms/...
Issue 4 of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs by @dmckenzie.bsky.social, Christopher Woodruff & Co-Editors is out now!➡️ voxdev.org/voxdevlit/tr...
Today's podcast covers the update➡️ voxdev.org/topic/firms/...
November 5, 2025 at 11:15 AM
What have we learned about training entrepreneurs?
Issue 4 of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs by @dmckenzie.bsky.social, Christopher Woodruff & Co-Editors is out now!➡️ voxdev.org/voxdevlit/tr...
Today's podcast covers the update➡️ voxdev.org/topic/firms/...
Issue 4 of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs by @dmckenzie.bsky.social, Christopher Woodruff & Co-Editors is out now!➡️ voxdev.org/voxdevlit/tr...
Today's podcast covers the update➡️ voxdev.org/topic/firms/...
Reposted by David McKenzie
Issue 4 (4!) of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs is out now.
This update includes interesting new evidence on longer-term impacts and the use of generative AI in training.
Everything you need to know on this topic will always be at this link and up to date ⤵️
This update includes interesting new evidence on longer-term impacts and the use of generative AI in training.
Everything you need to know on this topic will always be at this link and up to date ⤵️
What have we learned about training entrepreneurs?
Issue 4 of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs by @dmckenzie.bsky.social, Christopher Woodruff & Co-Editors is out now!➡️ voxdev.org/voxdevlit/tr...
Today's podcast covers the update➡️ voxdev.org/topic/firms/...
Issue 4 of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs by @dmckenzie.bsky.social, Christopher Woodruff & Co-Editors is out now!➡️ voxdev.org/voxdevlit/tr...
Today's podcast covers the update➡️ voxdev.org/topic/firms/...
November 5, 2025 at 11:24 AM
Issue 4 (4!) of our VoxDevLit on Training Entrepreneurs is out now.
This update includes interesting new evidence on longer-term impacts and the use of generative AI in training.
Everything you need to know on this topic will always be at this link and up to date ⤵️
This update includes interesting new evidence on longer-term impacts and the use of generative AI in training.
Everything you need to know on this topic will always be at this link and up to date ⤵️
In today's blog, I discuss how much I'm updating my priors on the effectiveness of wage subsidies in developing countries based on several new studies: quite a bit on shaping who is hired, much less on whether they create new jobs, a bit on coping with shocks blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Updating my priors on the effectiveness of wage subsidies in developing countries
blogs.worldbank.org
November 3, 2025 at 1:57 PM
In today's blog, I discuss how much I'm updating my priors on the effectiveness of wage subsidies in developing countries based on several new studies: quite a bit on shaping who is hired, much less on whether they create new jobs, a bit on coping with shocks blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by David McKenzie
Sad to hear about the death of Betty Sadoulet. In addition to the research and mentoring mentioned in this remembrance, she also co-authored a fantastic development econ text I use in class. It's so good I read the chapters I don't teach just for fun! www.routledge.com/Development-...
October 24, 2025 at 1:10 PM
Sad to hear about the death of Betty Sadoulet. In addition to the research and mentoring mentioned in this remembrance, she also co-authored a fantastic development econ text I use in class. It's so good I read the chapters I don't teach just for fun! www.routledge.com/Development-...
This week's links include the African PhD pipeline, creative destruction and entry reform in China, our blog your job market paper series is taking submissions, remembering Betty Sadoulet, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Weekly links October 24: the pipeline of African PhDs, creative destruction x2, Brazilian innovation, and more…
blogs.worldbank.org
October 24, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This week's links include the African PhD pipeline, creative destruction and entry reform in China, our blog your job market paper series is taking submissions, remembering Betty Sadoulet, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by David McKenzie
this has a good overview of the recent Fiscal Studies symposium to which @papiteide.bsky.social and I contributed. Our paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/..., more on the symposium here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14755890...
October 18, 2025 at 9:40 AM
this has a good overview of the recent Fiscal Studies symposium to which @papiteide.bsky.social and I contributed. Our paper here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/..., more on the symposium here: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/14755890...
This week's links include a mini-symposium on power calculations, what makes for good descriptive work, publishing tips for econometrics, making nice dot charts, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Weekly links October 17: statistical power, good descriptives, nice graphs, publishing metrics, and more…
blogs.worldbank.org
October 17, 2025 at 12:43 PM
This week's links include a mini-symposium on power calculations, what makes for good descriptive work, publishing tips for econometrics, making nice dot charts, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
One of my favorite traditions is now underway: for the 15th straight year, the Development Impact blog launches a call for PhD students in development economics to blog their job market paper - submissions due 8pm EST on Wednesday November 5: blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Blog your job market paper 2025: submissions now open
blogs.worldbank.org
October 14, 2025 at 1:48 PM
One of my favorite traditions is now underway: for the 15th straight year, the Development Impact blog launches a call for PhD students in development economics to blog their job market paper - submissions due 8pm EST on Wednesday November 5: blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
I learnt something new from Patrick Behrer's blog today: there seems to be evidence that aerosol pollution, while bad for air quality, health & productivity, has a localized effect on reducing heat - and so as pollution falls, more heat and cyclones may occur blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...?
Pollution, missing heat, and cyclones: what aerosols are doing to climate risk
blogs.worldbank.org
October 9, 2025 at 7:28 PM
I learnt something new from Patrick Behrer's blog today: there seems to be evidence that aerosol pollution, while bad for air quality, health & productivity, has a localized effect on reducing heat - and so as pollution falls, more heat and cyclones may occur blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...?
Call for papers for a World Bank Economic Review special issue on migration and development: we are doing a special issue that builds on a recent conference, but with submissions open also for non-conference papers. Short papers in the AER insights type format also welcome. Deadline November 30.
October 8, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Call for papers for a World Bank Economic Review special issue on migration and development: we are doing a special issue that builds on a recent conference, but with submissions open also for non-conference papers. Short papers in the AER insights type format also welcome. Deadline November 30.
This week's links include some of the successes of recent development economics research, advice on being visible, myths in development, index insurance, spatial causal inference approaches, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Weekly links October 3: rainfall insurance, deforestation, being visible, successful research, and more…
blogs.worldbank.org
October 3, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This week's links include some of the successes of recent development economics research, advice on being visible, myths in development, index insurance, spatial causal inference approaches, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by David McKenzie
Are you preparing a randomized controlled trial? Don't miss a special symposium of Fiscal Studies (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1475...) with three articles on power and sample size calculations. (1/3) @theifs.bsky.social
Fiscal Studies | IFS Public Economics Journal | Wiley Online Library
Click on the title to browse this journal
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
October 3, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Are you preparing a randomized controlled trial? Don't miss a special symposium of Fiscal Studies (onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/1475...) with three articles on power and sample size calculations. (1/3) @theifs.bsky.social
Reposted by David McKenzie
📈 #EconSky
🔎 Focus on #research by S. Bertoli, @dmckenzie.bsky.social & E. Murard
#Migration and #marriage are deeply interconnected. Uncertainty about who migrants marry can affect their decision to move—and moving can change who they marry.
Learn more: t.ly/iRRcf%F0%9F%...
#EconDev
🔎 Focus on #research by S. Bertoli, @dmckenzie.bsky.social & E. Murard
#Migration and #marriage are deeply interconnected. Uncertainty about who migrants marry can affect their decision to move—and moving can change who they marry.
Learn more: t.ly/iRRcf%F0%9F%...
#EconDev
October 1, 2025 at 3:00 PM
📈 #EconSky
🔎 Focus on #research by S. Bertoli, @dmckenzie.bsky.social & E. Murard
#Migration and #marriage are deeply interconnected. Uncertainty about who migrants marry can affect their decision to move—and moving can change who they marry.
Learn more: t.ly/iRRcf%F0%9F%...
#EconDev
🔎 Focus on #research by S. Bertoli, @dmckenzie.bsky.social & E. Murard
#Migration and #marriage are deeply interconnected. Uncertainty about who migrants marry can affect their decision to move—and moving can change who they marry.
Learn more: t.ly/iRRcf%F0%9F%...
#EconDev
Reposted by David McKenzie
This is a great little blog. The third point, on 'Immigration as an Industrial Strategy' ('not just using immigration to fill labor gaps, but using it strategically to catalyze new industries') is very relevant to current discussions around workforce for the green transition.
In today's blog, I discuss 3 ways for international migration to be part of a structural transformation policy: 1) as an industry itself; 2) training people abroad in the skills to develop a new industry at home; and 3) through immigration (eg Start-up Chile) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
International Migration as a Structural Transformation Policy
blogs.worldbank.org
September 29, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This is a great little blog. The third point, on 'Immigration as an Industrial Strategy' ('not just using immigration to fill labor gaps, but using it strategically to catalyze new industries') is very relevant to current discussions around workforce for the green transition.
In today's blog, I discuss 3 ways for international migration to be part of a structural transformation policy: 1) as an industry itself; 2) training people abroad in the skills to develop a new industry at home; and 3) through immigration (eg Start-up Chile) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
International Migration as a Structural Transformation Policy
blogs.worldbank.org
September 29, 2025 at 12:45 PM
In today's blog, I discuss 3 ways for international migration to be part of a structural transformation policy: 1) as an industry itself; 2) training people abroad in the skills to develop a new industry at home; and 3) through immigration (eg Start-up Chile) blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
This week's links include some positive developments in development, how to negotiate your econ job, why an SEZ was not very successful, econ meets other disciplines, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Weekly links September 19: positive developments, negotiating a job, counting people, SEZ problems, and more…
blogs.worldbank.org
September 19, 2025 at 1:49 PM
This week's links include some positive developments in development, how to negotiate your econ job, why an SEZ was not very successful, econ meets other disciplines, and more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Today's links include the new VoxDevLit on organized crime, going beyond push-pull migration, the state of the econ job market, and measuring success for female entrepreneurs. blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Weekly links September 12: measuring empowerment, beyond push-pull migration, crime and development, and more…
blogs.worldbank.org
September 12, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Today's links include the new VoxDevLit on organized crime, going beyond push-pull migration, the state of the econ job market, and measuring success for female entrepreneurs. blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Today's catch-up links have a behind the scenes seminar coming up on doing pre-registration and PAPs, how loans to banks helped firms in Ecuador, animal welfare economics mentoring, the need for more big firms in Africa, and much more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Weekly links September 5: cash arguments, make it easier to have big firms, designing projects, lending and jobs, and more…
blogs.worldbank.org
September 5, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Today's catch-up links have a behind the scenes seminar coming up on doing pre-registration and PAPs, how loans to banks helped firms in Ecuador, animal welfare economics mentoring, the need for more big firms in Africa, and much more... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
My paper on designing and analyzing powerful experiments is now up online at Fiscal Studies. Here is my shareable link for free access: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
September 4, 2025 at 7:17 PM
My paper on designing and analyzing powerful experiments is now up online at Fiscal Studies. Here is my shareable link for free access: onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author...
My sense is that from a Bayesian perspective this is not so bad? Essentially you require more evidence for claims that are more out of line with priors - so having a round of extra checks kick in when you get an unusual result may be justifiable? @economeager.bsky.social what do you think?
It's very human to only double check that a process is working when you get a weird result. It's also very bad practice, because sometimes your "right" result is due to a bad process and you will be misled. Social scientists (economists) do this kind of asymmetric checking.
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.20069
arxiv.org/pdf/2508.20069
September 2, 2025 at 2:10 PM
My sense is that from a Bayesian perspective this is not so bad? Essentially you require more evidence for claims that are more out of line with priors - so having a round of extra checks kick in when you get an unusual result may be justifiable? @economeager.bsky.social what do you think?
In today's blog post, what are attrition rates like in developed country field surveys? Benchmarks & lessons for development economists, especially those working with more urban/richer/more mobile populations... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Attrition in surveys in developed country field experiments
blogs.worldbank.org
September 2, 2025 at 1:44 PM
In today's blog post, what are attrition rates like in developed country field surveys? Benchmarks & lessons for development economists, especially those working with more urban/richer/more mobile populations... blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...