James Allen IV
@jealleniv.bsky.social
Development Economist. Associate Research Fellow at
@IFPRI. PhD @UMichEcon, MS @MSUAFRE, BA @almacollege. RPCV Mali. All opinions are my own.
Personal Website: www.jamesalleniv.com
@IFPRI. PhD @UMichEcon, MS @MSUAFRE, BA @almacollege. RPCV Mali. All opinions are my own.
Personal Website: www.jamesalleniv.com
Wow, several incredible Econ Job Market Papers presented at NEUDC 2025! Here are few that stood out (in the order I saw them). Quick summaries below with websites/JMP links. 🧵👇
November 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Wow, several incredible Econ Job Market Papers presented at NEUDC 2025! Here are few that stood out (in the order I saw them). Quick summaries below with websites/JMP links. 🧵👇
November 8, 2025 at 2:12 PM
Wishing everyone safe (un-cancelled) flights to #NEUDC2025!
If you make it, check out Block 4, Session 19: "Information, Governance and Public Service Delivery" w/ myself, @wsandholtz.bsky.social @AditiSingh095 @saritaoreq
#NEUDC
If you make it, check out Block 4, Session 19: "Information, Governance and Public Service Delivery" w/ myself, @wsandholtz.bsky.social @AditiSingh095 @saritaoreq
#NEUDC
November 7, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Wishing everyone safe (un-cancelled) flights to #NEUDC2025!
If you make it, check out Block 4, Session 19: "Information, Governance and Public Service Delivery" w/ myself, @wsandholtz.bsky.social @AditiSingh095 @saritaoreq
#NEUDC
If you make it, check out Block 4, Session 19: "Information, Governance and Public Service Delivery" w/ myself, @wsandholtz.bsky.social @AditiSingh095 @saritaoreq
#NEUDC
Today's @ifpri.org Applied Micro & Dev speaker is @eduardomontero.bsky.social (U Chicago) on “Fallow Lengths and the Structure of Property Rights"
Communal land rights were more common where fallow needs are greater, affecting life today.👇
w/ @elerossignol.bsky.social & @saralowes.bsky.social
Communal land rights were more common where fallow needs are greater, affecting life today.👇
w/ @elerossignol.bsky.social & @saralowes.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Today's @ifpri.org Applied Micro & Dev speaker is @eduardomontero.bsky.social (U Chicago) on “Fallow Lengths and the Structure of Property Rights"
Communal land rights were more common where fallow needs are greater, affecting life today.👇
w/ @elerossignol.bsky.social & @saralowes.bsky.social
Communal land rights were more common where fallow needs are greater, affecting life today.👇
w/ @elerossignol.bsky.social & @saralowes.bsky.social
Just got back from fieldwork & here's what I love about working in Senegal:
🙂 Amazing people: Smart, hospitable & love to laugh.
🍛 Yummy food: Fresh seafood, chicken yassa & thiebou rice
🏝️ Moving history: Ancient African kingdoms, slavery, colonization & a vibrant modern era.
🙂 Amazing people: Smart, hospitable & love to laugh.
🍛 Yummy food: Fresh seafood, chicken yassa & thiebou rice
🏝️ Moving history: Ancient African kingdoms, slavery, colonization & a vibrant modern era.
November 5, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Just got back from fieldwork & here's what I love about working in Senegal:
🙂 Amazing people: Smart, hospitable & love to laugh.
🍛 Yummy food: Fresh seafood, chicken yassa & thiebou rice
🏝️ Moving history: Ancient African kingdoms, slavery, colonization & a vibrant modern era.
🙂 Amazing people: Smart, hospitable & love to laugh.
🍛 Yummy food: Fresh seafood, chicken yassa & thiebou rice
🏝️ Moving history: Ancient African kingdoms, slavery, colonization & a vibrant modern era.
Do cash transfers (CTs) cause price inflation? 💸➡️📈
Excited to share a new Evidence Brief joint with @ugentilini.bsky.social reviewing 12 studies of CTs on price changes in LMICs that offer practical insights for researchers and policymakers.
Check it out: hdl.handle.net/10568/177175
Excited to share a new Evidence Brief joint with @ugentilini.bsky.social reviewing 12 studies of CTs on price changes in LMICs that offer practical insights for researchers and policymakers.
Check it out: hdl.handle.net/10568/177175
October 28, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Do cash transfers (CTs) cause price inflation? 💸➡️📈
Excited to share a new Evidence Brief joint with @ugentilini.bsky.social reviewing 12 studies of CTs on price changes in LMICs that offer practical insights for researchers and policymakers.
Check it out: hdl.handle.net/10568/177175
Excited to share a new Evidence Brief joint with @ugentilini.bsky.social reviewing 12 studies of CTs on price changes in LMICs that offer practical insights for researchers and policymakers.
Check it out: hdl.handle.net/10568/177175
What are the chances!?! @wsandholtz.bsky.social was selected to by my #NEUDC discussant AGAIN!
Double lucky for me! Double sorry for him. :)
Double lucky for me! Double sorry for him. :)
October 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
What are the chances!?! @wsandholtz.bsky.social was selected to by my #NEUDC discussant AGAIN!
Double lucky for me! Double sorry for him. :)
Double lucky for me! Double sorry for him. :)
Drones are now pervasive in💥warfare &🎆lightshows, but what about🌾agriculture? In just the last 5 years, millions of farmers—mostly in Asia—have started using drones for farming.
New Science commentary discusses the rapid early rise and possible implications of drone farming: (links below)
New Science commentary discusses the rapid early rise and possible implications of drone farming: (links below)
September 18, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Drones are now pervasive in💥warfare &🎆lightshows, but what about🌾agriculture? In just the last 5 years, millions of farmers—mostly in Asia—have started using drones for farming.
New Science commentary discusses the rapid early rise and possible implications of drone farming: (links below)
New Science commentary discusses the rapid early rise and possible implications of drone farming: (links below)
September 11, 2025 at 6:12 PM
"What is the most important metric to judge whether a cash transfer program is successful?" 🆕 paper asks high-level policymakers to rank 7 outcomes and their answer: food security!
And... 87% (accurately) believe that CTs increase #foodsecurity.
Paper: lnkd.in/emVXx72i
And... 87% (accurately) believe that CTs increase #foodsecurity.
Paper: lnkd.in/emVXx72i
September 10, 2025 at 3:41 PM
"What is the most important metric to judge whether a cash transfer program is successful?" 🆕 paper asks high-level policymakers to rank 7 outcomes and their answer: food security!
And... 87% (accurately) believe that CTs increase #foodsecurity.
Paper: lnkd.in/emVXx72i
And... 87% (accurately) believe that CTs increase #foodsecurity.
Paper: lnkd.in/emVXx72i
Today's @ifpri.org Applied Micro & Development speaker is Douglas Gollin (Tufts University)!
w/ @jwolfersberger.bsky.social studies impact of new roads on #deforestation in #Brazil via spatial GE model. Falling transport costs since 1995 --> 7% of total forest loss
Great seminar!
w/ @jwolfersberger.bsky.social studies impact of new roads on #deforestation in #Brazil via spatial GE model. Falling transport costs since 1995 --> 7% of total forest loss
Great seminar!
September 4, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Today's @ifpri.org Applied Micro & Development speaker is Douglas Gollin (Tufts University)!
w/ @jwolfersberger.bsky.social studies impact of new roads on #deforestation in #Brazil via spatial GE model. Falling transport costs since 1995 --> 7% of total forest loss
Great seminar!
w/ @jwolfersberger.bsky.social studies impact of new roads on #deforestation in #Brazil via spatial GE model. Falling transport costs since 1995 --> 7% of total forest loss
Great seminar!
🆕 paper gives hopeful evidence that rebuilding agricultural infrastructure can restore farming in post-conflict settings, evaluating large-scale #irrigation rehabilitation in #Afghanistan 2010-2016.
Paper in EDCC: doi.org/10.1086/733269
Striking parallels to #Gaza...
Paper in EDCC: doi.org/10.1086/733269
Striking parallels to #Gaza...
August 21, 2025 at 2:20 PM
🆕 paper gives hopeful evidence that rebuilding agricultural infrastructure can restore farming in post-conflict settings, evaluating large-scale #irrigation rehabilitation in #Afghanistan 2010-2016.
Paper in EDCC: doi.org/10.1086/733269
Striking parallels to #Gaza...
Paper in EDCC: doi.org/10.1086/733269
Striking parallels to #Gaza...
How do get the world (e.g., my children) to eat more fruits 🍎 and vegetables 🥦 (F&V)?
A 🆕 scoping review of 223 studies published between 2012-2022: doi.org/10.1177/0379...
My takeaway: More evidence is needed on #socialprotection impact on F&V consumption in LMICs!
A 🆕 scoping review of 223 studies published between 2012-2022: doi.org/10.1177/0379...
My takeaway: More evidence is needed on #socialprotection impact on F&V consumption in LMICs!
August 7, 2025 at 7:00 PM
How do get the world (e.g., my children) to eat more fruits 🍎 and vegetables 🥦 (F&V)?
A 🆕 scoping review of 223 studies published between 2012-2022: doi.org/10.1177/0379...
My takeaway: More evidence is needed on #socialprotection impact on F&V consumption in LMICs!
A 🆕 scoping review of 223 studies published between 2012-2022: doi.org/10.1177/0379...
My takeaway: More evidence is needed on #socialprotection impact on F&V consumption in LMICs!
“Global demand for food commodities is expected to grow faster than population between 2020 & 2050, with a more rapid increase in LMICs compared to HICs."
From Ch. 36 on 🆕 @IFPRI book on “Future of Food Systems”. Motivation for #UNFFS2025 & #FoodSystems research.
Links 👇
From Ch. 36 on 🆕 @IFPRI book on “Future of Food Systems”. Motivation for #UNFFS2025 & #FoodSystems research.
Links 👇
July 24, 2025 at 8:20 PM
“Global demand for food commodities is expected to grow faster than population between 2020 & 2050, with a more rapid increase in LMICs compared to HICs."
From Ch. 36 on 🆕 @IFPRI book on “Future of Food Systems”. Motivation for #UNFFS2025 & #FoodSystems research.
Links 👇
From Ch. 36 on 🆕 @IFPRI book on “Future of Food Systems”. Motivation for #UNFFS2025 & #FoodSystems research.
Links 👇
Last week, @ugentilini.bsky.social visited to talk about his 🆕 book "Timely Cash: Lessons From 2,500 Years of Giving People Money".
My takeaways 👇
📕🔗: academic.oup.com/book/58850
🎧🔗: open.spotify.com/show/5n20asB...
📸 w/ @jo-swinnen.bsky.social, D Gilligan & H Alderman at @ifpri.org
My takeaways 👇
📕🔗: academic.oup.com/book/58850
🎧🔗: open.spotify.com/show/5n20asB...
📸 w/ @jo-swinnen.bsky.social, D Gilligan & H Alderman at @ifpri.org
July 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Last week, @ugentilini.bsky.social visited to talk about his 🆕 book "Timely Cash: Lessons From 2,500 Years of Giving People Money".
My takeaways 👇
📕🔗: academic.oup.com/book/58850
🎧🔗: open.spotify.com/show/5n20asB...
📸 w/ @jo-swinnen.bsky.social, D Gilligan & H Alderman at @ifpri.org
My takeaways 👇
📕🔗: academic.oup.com/book/58850
🎧🔗: open.spotify.com/show/5n20asB...
📸 w/ @jo-swinnen.bsky.social, D Gilligan & H Alderman at @ifpri.org
My first RA job in my PhD was working with the incredible @DavidLam_UMich on the demography of the labor force in #SSA.
I learned that #SSA is the only major region with a growing youth and working-age population thru 2050!
Paper: g2lm-lic.iza.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/glmlic_sp010.pdf
I learned that #SSA is the only major region with a growing youth and working-age population thru 2050!
Paper: g2lm-lic.iza.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/glmlic_sp010.pdf
July 14, 2025 at 7:16 PM
How do you prefer your aid: in-kind🌾, in cash💵, or digital📲?
In #Sudan today, most urban respondents prefer digital, esp. among those exposed to theft/violence.
Policy brief: hdl.handle.net/10568/175477
More of IFPRI-Sudan's incredible ongoing work: sudan.ifpri.info
@ifpri.org @cgiar.org
In #Sudan today, most urban respondents prefer digital, esp. among those exposed to theft/violence.
Policy brief: hdl.handle.net/10568/175477
More of IFPRI-Sudan's incredible ongoing work: sudan.ifpri.info
@ifpri.org @cgiar.org
July 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM
How do you prefer your aid: in-kind🌾, in cash💵, or digital📲?
In #Sudan today, most urban respondents prefer digital, esp. among those exposed to theft/violence.
Policy brief: hdl.handle.net/10568/175477
More of IFPRI-Sudan's incredible ongoing work: sudan.ifpri.info
@ifpri.org @cgiar.org
In #Sudan today, most urban respondents prefer digital, esp. among those exposed to theft/violence.
Policy brief: hdl.handle.net/10568/175477
More of IFPRI-Sudan's incredible ongoing work: sudan.ifpri.info
@ifpri.org @cgiar.org
🖥️ Can #AI help predict #food crises? 🌽
Early signs point to yes! 🆕 AI-informed model trained to predict the % of people in food crisis.
🔵 Sensitivity: 94% of food crises identified
🟢 Precision: 78% of cases experience food crisis within 12 months
Presented @ifpri.org @cgiar.org. Links below!
Early signs point to yes! 🆕 AI-informed model trained to predict the % of people in food crisis.
🔵 Sensitivity: 94% of food crises identified
🟢 Precision: 78% of cases experience food crisis within 12 months
Presented @ifpri.org @cgiar.org. Links below!
July 2, 2025 at 7:40 PM
🖥️ Can #AI help predict #food crises? 🌽
Early signs point to yes! 🆕 AI-informed model trained to predict the % of people in food crisis.
🔵 Sensitivity: 94% of food crises identified
🟢 Precision: 78% of cases experience food crisis within 12 months
Presented @ifpri.org @cgiar.org. Links below!
Early signs point to yes! 🆕 AI-informed model trained to predict the % of people in food crisis.
🔵 Sensitivity: 94% of food crises identified
🟢 Precision: 78% of cases experience food crisis within 12 months
Presented @ifpri.org @cgiar.org. Links below!
June 30, 2025 at 5:08 PM
💥 Can ag modernization spur conflict? Yes, finds 🆕 #openaccess paper in JDE.
🧑🌾 Following intro of GE soy seed & market reforms, #Brazil municipalities w/ more soy-producing potential (1 SD more) saw increases (54%) in land occupations.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
🧑🌾 Following intro of GE soy seed & market reforms, #Brazil municipalities w/ more soy-producing potential (1 SD more) saw increases (54%) in land occupations.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
June 25, 2025 at 12:01 PM
💥 Can ag modernization spur conflict? Yes, finds 🆕 #openaccess paper in JDE.
🧑🌾 Following intro of GE soy seed & market reforms, #Brazil municipalities w/ more soy-producing potential (1 SD more) saw increases (54%) in land occupations.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
🧑🌾 Following intro of GE soy seed & market reforms, #Brazil municipalities w/ more soy-producing potential (1 SD more) saw increases (54%) in land occupations.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
🐟 A recent @natureportfolio.nature.com on small-scale fisheries estimates that they globally contribute:
1️⃣ 40% of fisheries’ catch
2️⃣ 2.3 billion people with key nutrients
3️⃣ 60.2 million jobs, of which 20.9 million go to women
4️⃣ 491.8 million livelihoods
Link: www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
1️⃣ 40% of fisheries’ catch
2️⃣ 2.3 billion people with key nutrients
3️⃣ 60.2 million jobs, of which 20.9 million go to women
4️⃣ 491.8 million livelihoods
Link: www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
June 13, 2025 at 3:38 PM
🐟 A recent @natureportfolio.nature.com on small-scale fisheries estimates that they globally contribute:
1️⃣ 40% of fisheries’ catch
2️⃣ 2.3 billion people with key nutrients
3️⃣ 60.2 million jobs, of which 20.9 million go to women
4️⃣ 491.8 million livelihoods
Link: www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
1️⃣ 40% of fisheries’ catch
2️⃣ 2.3 billion people with key nutrients
3️⃣ 60.2 million jobs, of which 20.9 million go to women
4️⃣ 491.8 million livelihoods
Link: www.nature.com/immersive/d4...
🐮How many cows do you have? 🐮
🆕 #openaccess JDE article (link 👇) finds that direct counting (vs. household reports) of livestock in #Ethiopia increased the survey's measurement of total livestock ownership by 39%!
Important for targeting rural development.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
🆕 #openaccess JDE article (link 👇) finds that direct counting (vs. household reports) of livestock in #Ethiopia increased the survey's measurement of total livestock ownership by 39%!
Important for targeting rural development.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
June 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM
🐮How many cows do you have? 🐮
🆕 #openaccess JDE article (link 👇) finds that direct counting (vs. household reports) of livestock in #Ethiopia increased the survey's measurement of total livestock ownership by 39%!
Important for targeting rural development.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
🆕 #openaccess JDE article (link 👇) finds that direct counting (vs. household reports) of livestock in #Ethiopia increased the survey's measurement of total livestock ownership by 39%!
Important for targeting rural development.
Paper link: doi.org/10.1016/j.jd...
How to design studies that scale up? 🤔
Michael Kremer (@devinnovationlab.bsky.social) presented this today at @ifpri.org: Among early projects at former USAID DIV, those that scaled successfully were usually:
💲 Cheaper: unit cost <$3USD
🚷 Did NOT sell to consumers
💻 Evaluated by RCT
Michael Kremer (@devinnovationlab.bsky.social) presented this today at @ifpri.org: Among early projects at former USAID DIV, those that scaled successfully were usually:
💲 Cheaper: unit cost <$3USD
🚷 Did NOT sell to consumers
💻 Evaluated by RCT
May 28, 2025 at 6:26 PM
How to design studies that scale up? 🤔
Michael Kremer (@devinnovationlab.bsky.social) presented this today at @ifpri.org: Among early projects at former USAID DIV, those that scaled successfully were usually:
💲 Cheaper: unit cost <$3USD
🚷 Did NOT sell to consumers
💻 Evaluated by RCT
Michael Kremer (@devinnovationlab.bsky.social) presented this today at @ifpri.org: Among early projects at former USAID DIV, those that scaled successfully were usually:
💲 Cheaper: unit cost <$3USD
🚷 Did NOT sell to consumers
💻 Evaluated by RCT
🚦How it started vs. how it’s going
😃IFPRI’s first 40 years (1975-2015): Unprecedented progress in reducing hunger and poverty
🫣Last 10 years (2015-2025): Stagnation and reversal. Still more work to do!
Live update from @ifpri.org #GFPR2025 launch. Report available now: hdl.handle.net/10568/174108
😃IFPRI’s first 40 years (1975-2015): Unprecedented progress in reducing hunger and poverty
🫣Last 10 years (2015-2025): Stagnation and reversal. Still more work to do!
Live update from @ifpri.org #GFPR2025 launch. Report available now: hdl.handle.net/10568/174108
May 28, 2025 at 1:50 PM
🚦How it started vs. how it’s going
😃IFPRI’s first 40 years (1975-2015): Unprecedented progress in reducing hunger and poverty
🫣Last 10 years (2015-2025): Stagnation and reversal. Still more work to do!
Live update from @ifpri.org #GFPR2025 launch. Report available now: hdl.handle.net/10568/174108
😃IFPRI’s first 40 years (1975-2015): Unprecedented progress in reducing hunger and poverty
🫣Last 10 years (2015-2025): Stagnation and reversal. Still more work to do!
Live update from @ifpri.org #GFPR2025 launch. Report available now: hdl.handle.net/10568/174108