Gender inequality varies widely between and within countries, despite widespread technological and institutional changes favoring female empowerment. Persistent disparities between genders have prompted a growing number of cultural explanations. Some scholars emphasize deep-rooted historical norms around female work, marriage, familial structures and political behavior that offer novel insights into the modern landscape of gender inequality. […]
At stages of a country’s development when agriculture employs a large share of the population, the characteristics of agricultural production can strongly influence the evolution of the economy. Economists have extensively studied the impact of agricultural productivity on development. The effects of certain types of agricultural products have also attracted considerable interest. In contrast, the […]
In the United States, the long-time disparity in men’s and women’s average earnings extends across skill levels. To explain why the gender pay gap persists between men and women with similar educational backgrounds and skills, researchers have documented robust differences in risk preferences and overconfidence between men and women, with women exhibiting a greater degree […]
A strong body of evidence demonstrates that the negative impacts of early adversity on child development in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) can be mitigated through appropriate early-life interventions. Regular home visits by trained staff who support and counsel caregivers on topics including child health, nutrition and play-based stimulation have proven to be particularly effective. […]
By Emanne Khan When representatives from 189 countries convened in Beijing, China in September 1995 for the Fourth United Nations World Conference on Women, they set up a platform for action to advance the objective of global gender equality. The platform established that “Governments and other actors should promote an active and visible policy of […]
Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence varies geographically in South Africa, but the drivers of this spatial heterogeneity are poorly understood. Like many infectious diseases, internal migration of infected people may contribute to the spread of TB and emergence of new hotspots via TB introduction and increased encounters between infectious and susceptible individuals. Cross-border migration has been shown […]
International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8th, is an occasion for the world to come together to celebrate women’s achievements, raise awareness of gender discrimination and take steps toward gender equality. While women’s rights have made remarkable progress in some respects, there is still much progress to be made. In honor of International Women’s Day, […]
The Boston University Global Development Policy (GDP) Center is pleased to announce the inaugural cohort of Human Capital Initiative (HCI) Faculty Affiliates. These six full-time BU faculty members represent diverse departments across the University, including the Department of Earth and Environment, the Department of Economics, the Pardee School of Global Studies and the Department of […]
In 2019, visible, “rapid onset” climate-related disasters displaced roughly 24.9 million people, with more than 143 million anticipated to be internally displaced by 2050 in Latin America, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Not only can climate change induce migration, but climate shocks—which can be defined as discrete, unanticipated destruction due to weather such as floods, […]
By Emanne Khan Over the past half-century, the Arab Gulf countries have experienced economic development at astonishing rates. Fueled by booming oil revenues during the 1970s and ‘80s, these countries, and particularly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), rapidly expanded roads, infrastructure, social services and more. With economic development came an influx of […]