Mahesh Shrestha
@mahesh.bsky.social
Senior Economist at the World Bank
Migration | Labor | Safety Nets | Human capital
All views personal
Web: https://sites.google.com/view/maheshshrestha/home
Migration | Labor | Safety Nets | Human capital
All views personal
Web: https://sites.google.com/view/maheshshrestha/home
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Personalized policies made exercise incentives 80% more effective for people with lifestyle-related health conditions, without added costs. Research by @rdizonross.bsky.social (@chicagobooth.bsky.social) and Ariel D. Zucker shows tailoring programs can greatly boost results: ow.ly/Npga50W8rtu
Mechanism Design for Personalized Policy: A Field Experiment Incentivizing Exercise | Becker Friedman Institute
Making policy entails setting rules, regulations, and other guidelines with a desired outcome in mind. However, people respond differently to such efforts, and these heterogeneous responses necessaril...
ow.ly
June 12, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Personalized policies made exercise incentives 80% more effective for people with lifestyle-related health conditions, without added costs. Research by @rdizonross.bsky.social (@chicagobooth.bsky.social) and Ariel D. Zucker shows tailoring programs can greatly boost results: ow.ly/Npga50W8rtu
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Is it "good" or "bad" when skilled people leave low-income countries? We summarized the evidence in favor of "brain gain" vs. "brain drain": www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
Ungated PDF: johanneshaushofer.com/research
Ungated PDF: johanneshaushofer.com/research
May 22, 2025 at 6:28 PM
Is it "good" or "bad" when skilled people leave low-income countries? We summarized the evidence in favor of "brain gain" vs. "brain drain": www.science.org/doi/epdf/10....
Ungated PDF: johanneshaushofer.com/research
Ungated PDF: johanneshaushofer.com/research
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Cash transfers are now part of policymakers' toolkits for poverty alleviation.
Evidence from 115 studies in 34 LMICs shows robust positive impacts across key economic & social outcomes: consumption, income, total assets, food security, well-being & children’s education/health ⤵️
Evidence from 115 studies in 34 LMICs shows robust positive impacts across key economic & social outcomes: consumption, income, total assets, food security, well-being & children’s education/health ⤵️
🆕 What broad lessons have we learned from 115 studies on unconditional cash transfers?
Tommaso Crosta, @deankarlan.bsky.social, Finley Ong, Julius Ruschenpohler & @christopher-udry.bsky.social (@NU_GPRL @KelloggSchool) explore the impacts of cash transfers: voxdev.org/topic/social...
Tommaso Crosta, @deankarlan.bsky.social, Finley Ong, Julius Ruschenpohler & @christopher-udry.bsky.social (@NU_GPRL @KelloggSchool) explore the impacts of cash transfers: voxdev.org/topic/social...
What broad lessons have we learned from 115 studies on unconditional cash transfers?
A meta-analysis of 115 studies shows that unconditional cash transfers have positive impacts on a range of key economic and social outcomes, including consumption, income, labour supply, and child hea...
voxdev.org
May 16, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Cash transfers are now part of policymakers' toolkits for poverty alleviation.
Evidence from 115 studies in 34 LMICs shows robust positive impacts across key economic & social outcomes: consumption, income, total assets, food security, well-being & children’s education/health ⤵️
Evidence from 115 studies in 34 LMICs shows robust positive impacts across key economic & social outcomes: consumption, income, total assets, food security, well-being & children’s education/health ⤵️
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
With the excitement (delirium?) surrounding the rise of AI, it's more important than ever that scientists and journalists maintain an attitude of skepticism and dispassion about new findings as they arrive
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/mit-...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/mit-...
MIT Says It No Longer Stands Behind Student’s AI Research Paper
The university said it has no confidence in a widely circulated paper by an economics graduate student.
www.wsj.com
May 16, 2025 at 5:03 PM
With the excitement (delirium?) surrounding the rise of AI, it's more important than ever that scientists and journalists maintain an attitude of skepticism and dispassion about new findings as they arrive
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/mit-...
www.wsj.com/tech/ai/mit-...
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
At Princeton BREAD conference, my co-authors @pbrimble.bsky.social & Akhila Kovvuri will present our paper on the political economy impacts of the Ramayan TV show in India! 1 pm US ET, tomorrow Fri May 2.
Watch on Zoom: princeton.zoom.us/j/93399992221
ibread.org/conference/b...
#EconSky #Ramayan
Watch on Zoom: princeton.zoom.us/j/93399992221
ibread.org/conference/b...
#EconSky #Ramayan
BREAD Conference on Development, Princeton, May 2-3, 2025 – BREAD
ibread.org
May 1, 2025 at 7:09 AM
At Princeton BREAD conference, my co-authors @pbrimble.bsky.social & Akhila Kovvuri will present our paper on the political economy impacts of the Ramayan TV show in India! 1 pm US ET, tomorrow Fri May 2.
Watch on Zoom: princeton.zoom.us/j/93399992221
ibread.org/conference/b...
#EconSky #Ramayan
Watch on Zoom: princeton.zoom.us/j/93399992221
ibread.org/conference/b...
#EconSky #Ramayan
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Looking forward to talking to @adb.org President Kanda about Asia's experience with industrial policy and what the rest of the world can learn as well as recent developments. Join us, 11:30am EST April 22 in person or online.
@cgdev.org invites you to a special #SpringMeetings conversation with CGD President @rglenner.bsky.social and @adb.org President Masato Kanda.
Happening April 22—RSVP to join us in person or online! ⬇️
bit.ly/4j4qeOi
Happening April 22—RSVP to join us in person or online! ⬇️
bit.ly/4j4qeOi
April 9, 2025 at 11:36 PM
Looking forward to talking to @adb.org President Kanda about Asia's experience with industrial policy and what the rest of the world can learn as well as recent developments. Join us, 11:30am EST April 22 in person or online.
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
🚨New paper alert!🚨 How do different disciplines use statistical software? We looked at 10,000 papers. We all know a lot of economists use Stata and a lot of statisticians use R. But...
April 10, 2025 at 2:00 AM
🚨New paper alert!🚨 How do different disciplines use statistical software? We looked at 10,000 papers. We all know a lot of economists use Stata and a lot of statisticians use R. But...
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
I'm speaking tomorrow Mon 31 Mar at the LSE Applications Seminar. Paper is on the Ramayan TV show's impact on Hindu identity and the rise of the BJP in India... 12:00-13:30, SAL 1.04, Sir Arthur Lewis Building, LSE. Come one, come all!
cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/...
#EconSky #Ramayan
cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/...
#EconSky #Ramayan
March 30, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I'm speaking tomorrow Mon 31 Mar at the LSE Applications Seminar. Paper is on the Ramayan TV show's impact on Hindu identity and the rise of the BJP in India... 12:00-13:30, SAL 1.04, Sir Arthur Lewis Building, LSE. Come one, come all!
cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/...
#EconSky #Ramayan
cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/events/...
#EconSky #Ramayan
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
If you get a "You forget Econ 101" from Mankiw, you automatically lose your economist card. Sorry I don't make the rules.
Greg Mankiw, who has been teaching econ 101 for decades, scolds Hassett for causally interpreting an accounting identity and pretending it’s econ 101 gregmankiw.blogspot.com/2025/03/kevi...
Greg Mankiw's Blog: Kevin Hassett forgets Econ 101
gregmankiw.blogspot.com
March 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
If you get a "You forget Econ 101" from Mankiw, you automatically lose your economist card. Sorry I don't make the rules.
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Subsidising secondary school had transformative impacts.
Female recipients had ~15% fewer unplanned pregnancies, 15% fewer children + significantly delayed age at first childbirth & marriage.
Over time, their offspring’s outcomes improved dramatically ⤵️
Female recipients had ~15% fewer unplanned pregnancies, 15% fewer children + significantly delayed age at first childbirth & marriage.
Over time, their offspring’s outcomes improved dramatically ⤵️
February 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Subsidising secondary school had transformative impacts.
Female recipients had ~15% fewer unplanned pregnancies, 15% fewer children + significantly delayed age at first childbirth & marriage.
Over time, their offspring’s outcomes improved dramatically ⤵️
Female recipients had ~15% fewer unplanned pregnancies, 15% fewer children + significantly delayed age at first childbirth & marriage.
Over time, their offspring’s outcomes improved dramatically ⤵️
In this blog, we discuss how migration can help balance the demographic divergence between countries though bilateral labor agreements.
They can be a great instrument, esp when combined with skills dev & match, and strong implementation capacity.
blogs.worldbank.org/en/developme...
They can be a great instrument, esp when combined with skills dev & match, and strong implementation capacity.
blogs.worldbank.org/en/developme...
Unlocking migration’s potential: Five key insights on Bilateral Labor Agreements (BLAs)
In his blog "Unlocking migration’s potential: Five key insights on Bilateral Labor Agreements (BLAs)," Maheshwor Shrestha discusses the critical role of migration in balancing labor markets amid demog...
blogs.worldbank.org
February 12, 2025 at 9:15 PM
In this blog, we discuss how migration can help balance the demographic divergence between countries though bilateral labor agreements.
They can be a great instrument, esp when combined with skills dev & match, and strong implementation capacity.
blogs.worldbank.org/en/developme...
They can be a great instrument, esp when combined with skills dev & match, and strong implementation capacity.
blogs.worldbank.org/en/developme...
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Congratulations to Manasi Deshpande, @talgross.bsky.social, and Yalun Su who were recognized for the AEJ Best Paper Award for Applied Economics at #ASSA2025 for the paper “Disability and Distress: The Effect of Disability Programs on Financial Outcomes.” #econsky aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
January 27, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Congratulations to Manasi Deshpande, @talgross.bsky.social, and Yalun Su who were recognized for the AEJ Best Paper Award for Applied Economics at #ASSA2025 for the paper “Disability and Distress: The Effect of Disability Programs on Financial Outcomes.” #econsky aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Journalists. Please. Too many of you are going to call this a tax “on Colombia”.
It’s a tax on Americans. All Americans who ever drink coffee. Or buy cut flowers.
A tax. On Americans.
It’s a tax on Americans. All Americans who ever drink coffee. Or buy cut flowers.
A tax. On Americans.
Nearly all coffee consumed in the United States is imported, and the largest source of that coffee is Colombia. Trump is putting a 25% tax on our top source of coffee, and that tax will be passed on to American consumers
BREAKING: Trump orders 25% tariffs on all goods from Colombia after 2 deportation flights were rejected
January 26, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Journalists. Please. Too many of you are going to call this a tax “on Colombia”.
It’s a tax on Americans. All Americans who ever drink coffee. Or buy cut flowers.
A tax. On Americans.
It’s a tax on Americans. All Americans who ever drink coffee. Or buy cut flowers.
A tax. On Americans.
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
“Americans can expect fewer job opportunities, higher prices for a range of goods” from mass expulsion, I told @scrippsnews.bsky.social.
“They can expect less new home construction. They can expect higher rates of institutionalization for the elderly, & they can expect no change in the crime rate.”
“They can expect less new home construction. They can expect higher rates of institutionalization for the elderly, & they can expect no change in the crime rate.”
What's the potential financial cost of Trump's immigration policies?
Millions of undocumented immigrants could now face heightened enforcement as President Trump works to fulfill his promise of mass deportations — a promise that could cost the government billions.
www.scrippsnews.com
January 26, 2025 at 2:18 PM
“Americans can expect fewer job opportunities, higher prices for a range of goods” from mass expulsion, I told @scrippsnews.bsky.social.
“They can expect less new home construction. They can expect higher rates of institutionalization for the elderly, & they can expect no change in the crime rate.”
“They can expect less new home construction. They can expect higher rates of institutionalization for the elderly, & they can expect no change in the crime rate.”
Nudges can work; but some work better than others. Some combinations work much better…
Here is what we did to identify the most effective and the most cost effective combinations of nudges to boost demand for immunization in the Indian state of Haryana:
Here is what we did to identify the most effective and the most cost effective combinations of nudges to boost demand for immunization in the Indian state of Haryana:
We use a new machine learning technique to identify the most cost-effective policies to boost immunization demand in India. We evaluated 75 combos of reminders, incentives, and local community ambassadors. The most effective increased immunization by 44%. https://buff.ly/4j0v3IF
January 13, 2025 at 10:28 AM
Nudges can work; but some work better than others. Some combinations work much better…
Here is what we did to identify the most effective and the most cost effective combinations of nudges to boost demand for immunization in the Indian state of Haryana:
Here is what we did to identify the most effective and the most cost effective combinations of nudges to boost demand for immunization in the Indian state of Haryana:
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
This paper is an amazing introduction to considering effective policy in the real world
We use a new machine learning technique to identify the most cost-effective policies to boost immunization demand in India. We evaluated 75 combos of reminders, incentives, and local community ambassadors. The most effective increased immunization by 44%. https://buff.ly/4j0v3IF
January 9, 2025 at 2:32 PM
This paper is an amazing introduction to considering effective policy in the real world
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
How does international migrant income affect development of migrant-origin areas?
Emir Murathanoglu presents our paper (w/ @econgaurav.bsky.social, Caroline Theoharides) at #ASSA2025 migration session! Today 2:30pm
VoxDev summary: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
#EconSky
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
Emir Murathanoglu presents our paper (w/ @econgaurav.bsky.social, Caroline Theoharides) at #ASSA2025 migration session! Today 2:30pm
VoxDev summary: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
#EconSky
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
American Economic Association
www.aeaweb.org
January 4, 2025 at 11:14 AM
How does international migrant income affect development of migrant-origin areas?
Emir Murathanoglu presents our paper (w/ @econgaurav.bsky.social, Caroline Theoharides) at #ASSA2025 migration session! Today 2:30pm
VoxDev summary: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
#EconSky
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
Emir Murathanoglu presents our paper (w/ @econgaurav.bsky.social, Caroline Theoharides) at #ASSA2025 migration session! Today 2:30pm
VoxDev summary: voxdev.org/topic/migrat...
#EconSky
www.aeaweb.org/conference/2...
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Evidence from cash transfers at scale in Kenya suggests that demand-side policies or stimulus may be very effective at raising output without creating inflationary pressure when there is a lot of ‘slack’ in the economy.
Read more on the macroeconomic impacts of cash transfers ⤵️
Read more on the macroeconomic impacts of cash transfers ⤵️
January 6, 2025 at 12:07 PM
Evidence from cash transfers at scale in Kenya suggests that demand-side policies or stimulus may be very effective at raising output without creating inflationary pressure when there is a lot of ‘slack’ in the economy.
Read more on the macroeconomic impacts of cash transfers ⤵️
Read more on the macroeconomic impacts of cash transfers ⤵️
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Researcher: "We let the data speak for itself."
Earlier that day:
Earlier that day:
January 2, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Researcher: "We let the data speak for itself."
Earlier that day:
Earlier that day:
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Vastly wealthier than the merely moneyed
Guinea worm used to afflict 3.5 million people each year. This year, thanks in part to Jimmy Carter, there have been 7 cases. He negotiated the longest humanitarian cease-fire in history to distribute water filters & larvicides www.scientificamerican.com/article/jimm... via @tanyalewis.bsky.social
Jimmy Carter, Who Has Died at Age 100, Spared Millions of People from Guinea Worm, a Debilitating Parasite
Former president Jimmy Carter’s charity has helped transform Guinea worm from a disease that used to infect millions to one that infects fewer than a dozen
www.scientificamerican.com
December 30, 2024 at 1:08 AM
Vastly wealthier than the merely moneyed
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
How many people have been arriving via the US Southwest border?
The US Census Bureau just unveiled a new method for counting them.
It appears to substantially address (eliminate?) the CPS/ACS undercount relative to other data sources—> www.census.gov/newsroom/blo...
The US Census Bureau just unveiled a new method for counting them.
It appears to substantially address (eliminate?) the CPS/ACS undercount relative to other data sources—> www.census.gov/newsroom/blo...
December 23, 2024 at 8:54 PM
How many people have been arriving via the US Southwest border?
The US Census Bureau just unveiled a new method for counting them.
It appears to substantially address (eliminate?) the CPS/ACS undercount relative to other data sources—> www.census.gov/newsroom/blo...
The US Census Bureau just unveiled a new method for counting them.
It appears to substantially address (eliminate?) the CPS/ACS undercount relative to other data sources—> www.census.gov/newsroom/blo...
Reposted by Mahesh Shrestha
Academics from poorer socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to
- not publish
- have outstanding publication records
- introduce more novel scientific concepts
- less likely to receive recognition, as measured by citations, Nobel Prize nominations, and awards.
www.nber.org/papers/w33289
- not publish
- have outstanding publication records
- introduce more novel scientific concepts
- less likely to receive recognition, as measured by citations, Nobel Prize nominations, and awards.
www.nber.org/papers/w33289
December 23, 2024 at 12:10 PM
Academics from poorer socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to
- not publish
- have outstanding publication records
- introduce more novel scientific concepts
- less likely to receive recognition, as measured by citations, Nobel Prize nominations, and awards.
www.nber.org/papers/w33289
- not publish
- have outstanding publication records
- introduce more novel scientific concepts
- less likely to receive recognition, as measured by citations, Nobel Prize nominations, and awards.
www.nber.org/papers/w33289
New working paper:
We find that bilateral labor agreements significantly increases migration.
Low- and lower-middle-income countries can gain US$ 120 million each year from a single BLA in the form of higher migrant earnings!
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099…
We find that bilateral labor agreements significantly increases migration.
Low- and lower-middle-income countries can gain US$ 120 million each year from a single BLA in the form of higher migrant earnings!
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099…
December 19, 2024 at 7:33 AM
New working paper:
We find that bilateral labor agreements significantly increases migration.
Low- and lower-middle-income countries can gain US$ 120 million each year from a single BLA in the form of higher migrant earnings!
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099…
We find that bilateral labor agreements significantly increases migration.
Low- and lower-middle-income countries can gain US$ 120 million each year from a single BLA in the form of higher migrant earnings!
documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/099…