Mike O’Sullivan
@mbosullivan.bsky.social
Development economist at World Bank’s Africa GIL. Burkina Faso #RPCV. Views my own.
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
🚨Development Economists!🚨Do you use Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS Program) data, which had been supported by USAID? IPUMS ( @ipums.bsky.social ) and the UN Statistics Division have a survey for you. I just filled it out. You can too. #econsky
Users of the Demographic and Health Surveys, please take the United Nations Statistics Division DHS impact survey (form.jotform.com/250913880478...) regarding recent cuts. Replies inform future planning and advocacy. All responses are confidential and presented only in aggregate.
Questionnaire on the use of the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) data
Please click the link to complete this form.
form.jotform.com
April 21, 2025 at 8:24 PM
🚨Development Economists!🚨Do you use Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS Program) data, which had been supported by USAID? IPUMS ( @ipums.bsky.social ) and the UN Statistics Division have a survey for you. I just filled it out. You can too. #econsky
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
Very happy and proud of Habibou Ibrahim Kassoum, who I am happy to co-supervise with Pascale Phélinas at @cerdi.bsky.social. Habibou is hosted for a research stay (visiting) by the World Bank's Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) 🙌🏼
April 25, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Very happy and proud of Habibou Ibrahim Kassoum, who I am happy to co-supervise with Pascale Phélinas at @cerdi.bsky.social. Habibou is hosted for a research stay (visiting) by the World Bank's Africa Gender Innovation Lab (GIL) 🙌🏼
An amazing opportunity for economics scholars in Africa to spend 3 months @oxfordcsae.bsky.social Deadline to apply = May 31
We have just opened the 2026 CSAE Fellowship scheme. We host and support rising African scholars for 3 months at Oxford. This year we had five scholars visiting. See the application process here www.csae.ox.ac.uk/visiting-fel....
CSAE VISITING FELLOWSHIPS
CSAE Visiting Fellowships
www.csae.ox.ac.uk
March 29, 2025 at 1:06 PM
An amazing opportunity for economics scholars in Africa to spend 3 months @oxfordcsae.bsky.social Deadline to apply = May 31
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
Wanted to do an #econtwitter #econsky 🧵about some of the amazing gender-related work (note - not exhaustive!) presented this week at CSAE - was not there, but had a fascinating time browsing the program. (Link below)
March 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Wanted to do an #econtwitter #econsky 🧵about some of the amazing gender-related work (note - not exhaustive!) presented this week at CSAE - was not there, but had a fascinating time browsing the program. (Link below)
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
New RePEc feature for Bluesky! Get new paper announcements from NEP in 100 different fields. Find them all on this starter pack bsky.app/starter-pack... and soon the links to the accounts will be at nep.repec.org
#RePEc #EconSky
#RePEc #EconSky
NEP feeds for new economics papers, by field.
Join the conversation
bsky.app
December 31, 2024 at 1:45 PM
New RePEc feature for Bluesky! Get new paper announcements from NEP in 100 different fields. Find them all on this starter pack bsky.app/starter-pack... and soon the links to the accounts will be at nep.repec.org
#RePEc #EconSky
#RePEc #EconSky
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
@justsand.bsky.social and I try to answer the question: how many lives saved by US foreign assistance each year. Best estimate: 3.3 million.
www.cgdev.org/blog/how-man...
www.cgdev.org/blog/how-man...
March 15, 2025 at 12:35 PM
@justsand.bsky.social and I try to answer the question: how many lives saved by US foreign assistance each year. Best estimate: 3.3 million.
www.cgdev.org/blog/how-man...
www.cgdev.org/blog/how-man...
Important piece from Caren Grown at Brookings on why the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program remains indispensable for global public health and development. Without good data, we simply can’t make good policy.
An ode to the Demographic and Health Survey Program
Caren Grown reflects on the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program and its 40-plus years of impact.
www.brookings.edu
March 6, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Important piece from Caren Grown at Brookings on why the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) program remains indispensable for global public health and development. Without good data, we simply can’t make good policy.
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
In today's blog, I summarize 7-7.5 year impacts of a RCT we did in Togo that tested personal initiative (PI) training against a control and traditional business training. PI training has large and growing impacts for men, which diverge from those for women 1/3 blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Personal initiative training continues to yield positive benefits after 7 years, but impacts vary with gender
blogs.worldbank.org
March 3, 2025 at 4:03 PM
In today's blog, I summarize 7-7.5 year impacts of a RCT we did in Togo that tested personal initiative (PI) training against a control and traditional business training. PI training has large and growing impacts for men, which diverge from those for women 1/3 blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
csae.ox.ac.uk/scholarships
final application date CSAE scholarships for African economics graduate students at Oxford is 4 March
final application date CSAE scholarships for African economics graduate students at Oxford is 4 March
February 28, 2025 at 10:51 AM
csae.ox.ac.uk/scholarships
final application date CSAE scholarships for African economics graduate students at Oxford is 4 March
final application date CSAE scholarships for African economics graduate students at Oxford is 4 March
What a huge loss…
Trump Administration Ends Global Health Research Program (Gift Article)
The Demographic and Health Surveys were the only sources of reliable information in many countries on metrics such as mortality, nutrition and education.
www.nytimes.com
February 26, 2025 at 11:59 PM
What a huge loss…
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
What does U.S. aid really pay for anyway?
1.5 million lives saved via Gavi, for one.
New in AEJ: Economic Policy
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
1.5 million lives saved via Gavi, for one.
New in AEJ: Economic Policy
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
February 2, 2025 at 1:10 AM
What does U.S. aid really pay for anyway?
1.5 million lives saved via Gavi, for one.
New in AEJ: Economic Policy
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
1.5 million lives saved via Gavi, for one.
New in AEJ: Economic Policy
www.aeaweb.org/articles?id=...
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
Please consider applying to a pre-doc position at UCSD. Projects at the intersection of development and culture in Africa with Eduardo Montero Nathan Nunn James Robinson & others. Possible fieldwork in DRC. French skills preferred. Thank you! employment.ucsd.edu/research-ass...
Research Assistant - 133553
Apply for Research Assistant - 133553 position at UC San Diego in Remote, National on https://employment.ucsd.edu/
employment.ucsd.edu
December 10, 2024 at 8:37 PM
Please consider applying to a pre-doc position at UCSD. Projects at the intersection of development and culture in Africa with Eduardo Montero Nathan Nunn James Robinson & others. Possible fieldwork in DRC. French skills preferred. Thank you! employment.ucsd.edu/research-ass...
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
🆕 Improving hygiene, reducing menstrual stigma, and boosting learning in schools
Today, Julieta Vera Rueda @WorldBank, Karen Macours @PSE & Duncan Webb @PrincetonEcon outline their study of a hygiene- & menstruation-focused intervention in Madagascar:
voxdev.org/topic/health...
Today, Julieta Vera Rueda @WorldBank, Karen Macours @PSE & Duncan Webb @PrincetonEcon outline their study of a hygiene- & menstruation-focused intervention in Madagascar:
voxdev.org/topic/health...
Improving hygiene, reducing menstrual stigma, and boosting learning in schools
A hygiene- and menstruation-focused intervention in Madagascan schools boosted learning, while also reducing stress and improving the psychosocial climate of schools.
voxdev.org
December 12, 2024 at 1:02 PM
🆕 Improving hygiene, reducing menstrual stigma, and boosting learning in schools
Today, Julieta Vera Rueda @WorldBank, Karen Macours @PSE & Duncan Webb @PrincetonEcon outline their study of a hygiene- & menstruation-focused intervention in Madagascar:
voxdev.org/topic/health...
Today, Julieta Vera Rueda @WorldBank, Karen Macours @PSE & Duncan Webb @PrincetonEcon outline their study of a hygiene- & menstruation-focused intervention in Madagascar:
voxdev.org/topic/health...
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
🆕 The lasting impact of war on trust: Evidence from Sierra Leone
Today, Niklas Buehren @WorldBank, Markus Goldstein @WorldBank, Imran Rasul @uclofficial.bsky.social & Andrea Smurra @theifs.bsky.social outline how Sierra Leone's civil war changed the way trust formed: voxdev.org/topic/instit...
Today, Niklas Buehren @WorldBank, Markus Goldstein @WorldBank, Imran Rasul @uclofficial.bsky.social & Andrea Smurra @theifs.bsky.social outline how Sierra Leone's civil war changed the way trust formed: voxdev.org/topic/instit...
The lasting impact of war on trust: Evidence from Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone's civil war not only left a legacy of lost lives and damaged infrastructure, but changed the way trust is formed, showing how early-life trauma can shape long-term economic decision makin...
voxdev.org
November 28, 2024 at 9:03 AM
🆕 The lasting impact of war on trust: Evidence from Sierra Leone
Today, Niklas Buehren @WorldBank, Markus Goldstein @WorldBank, Imran Rasul @uclofficial.bsky.social & Andrea Smurra @theifs.bsky.social outline how Sierra Leone's civil war changed the way trust formed: voxdev.org/topic/instit...
Today, Niklas Buehren @WorldBank, Markus Goldstein @WorldBank, Imran Rasul @uclofficial.bsky.social & Andrea Smurra @theifs.bsky.social outline how Sierra Leone's civil war changed the way trust formed: voxdev.org/topic/instit...
Do check out @mrao.bsky.social's excellent and important job market paper. It raises a bunch of important questions for those of us trying to conduct research to inform policy.
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 11:41 AM
Do check out @mrao.bsky.social's excellent and important job market paper. It raises a bunch of important questions for those of us trying to conduct research to inform policy.
🚨40% of Africa's teen girls are out of school, married, or w/kids vs 12% of boys. Our new report w/@cgdev.bsky.social/Pop Council/WB People team offers new data & evidence on how targeted policy action unlocks big growth gains. Join us on Thurs. the 21st for the launch! Register:
shorturl.at/uQt7N
shorturl.at/uQt7N
November 15, 2024 at 5:05 PM
🚨40% of Africa's teen girls are out of school, married, or w/kids vs 12% of boys. Our new report w/@cgdev.bsky.social/Pop Council/WB People team offers new data & evidence on how targeted policy action unlocks big growth gains. Join us on Thurs. the 21st for the launch! Register:
shorturl.at/uQt7N
shorturl.at/uQt7N
Great — if sobering — JMP post from @mrao.bsky.social on how impact evaluations do & don’t shift policy spending. Quicker results & those linked to political party in power (i.e., low political constraints) are more likely to shape CCT spending in Latin America. Paper: tinyurl.com/yc2m5xau
November 12, 2024 at 1:41 PM
Great — if sobering — JMP post from @mrao.bsky.social on how impact evaluations do & don’t shift policy spending. Quicker results & those linked to political party in power (i.e., low political constraints) are more likely to shape CCT spending in Latin America. Paper: tinyurl.com/yc2m5xau
Our #AfricaGIL team has studied psychology-based personal initiative training, first in Togo, showing remarkable results for women & men. A new 7-year follow-up RCT from Togo finds even larger profit gains—but these impacts are concentrated among men. More below. #EconSky tinyurl.com/57mwpkdz
October 3, 2024 at 10:33 AM
Our #AfricaGIL team has studied psychology-based personal initiative training, first in Togo, showing remarkable results for women & men. A new 7-year follow-up RCT from Togo finds even larger profit gains—but these impacts are concentrated among men. More below. #EconSky tinyurl.com/57mwpkdz
Excited to see this paper published! You can find our #AfricaGIL policy brief on the findings here: documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
September 28, 2024 at 1:26 PM
Excited to see this paper published! You can find our #AfricaGIL policy brief on the findings here: documents1.worldbank.org/curated/en/0...
Reposted by Mike O’Sullivan
Giving smallholder farmers access to warrantage (storing their crops and, when they choose so, using that as a collateral to obtain credit) helps them invest more in human and farm capital. Sharing our recent experimental evidence from Burkina Faso
#econsky
#econsky
Warrantage: A model of rural finance that boosts farmers’ income and investment
Warrantage is an innovative model of rural finance which improves access to credit and crop storage. In Burkina Faso, warrantage increased farmers’ sales revenues, which they spent on education, healt...
voxdev.org
September 26, 2024 at 1:27 AM
Giving smallholder farmers access to warrantage (storing their crops and, when they choose so, using that as a collateral to obtain credit) helps them invest more in human and farm capital. Sharing our recent experimental evidence from Burkina Faso
#econsky
#econsky
🚨Job Alert!🚨
We're looking for a creative & technically strong economist to lead experimental research on women’s access to capital & entrepreneurship support in Ethiopia (and beyond). Join us at the Africa GIL team! Pls share! Details ⬇️
worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersi...
#EconSky #EconJobs 🧵
We're looking for a creative & technically strong economist to lead experimental research on women’s access to capital & entrepreneurship support in Ethiopia (and beyond). Join us at the Africa GIL team! Pls share! Details ⬇️
worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersi...
#EconSky #EconJobs 🧵
September 20, 2024 at 12:53 PM
🚨Job Alert!🚨
We're looking for a creative & technically strong economist to lead experimental research on women’s access to capital & entrepreneurship support in Ethiopia (and beyond). Join us at the Africa GIL team! Pls share! Details ⬇️
worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersi...
#EconSky #EconJobs 🧵
We're looking for a creative & technically strong economist to lead experimental research on women’s access to capital & entrepreneurship support in Ethiopia (and beyond). Join us at the Africa GIL team! Pls share! Details ⬇️
worldbankgroup.csod.com/ats/careersi...
#EconSky #EconJobs 🧵
🚨NEW WORKING PAPER🚨 Socio-emotional skills (SES) matter for labor market outcomes. There also appear to be large male-female gaps in these skills. But are these gender SES gaps real, or is something else at play? Our latest World Bank #AfricaGIL paper delves into this question. 👇
#EconSky 1/n
#EconSky 1/n
September 16, 2024 at 5:38 PM
🚨NEW WORKING PAPER🚨 Socio-emotional skills (SES) matter for labor market outcomes. There also appear to be large male-female gaps in these skills. But are these gender SES gaps real, or is something else at play? Our latest World Bank #AfricaGIL paper delves into this question. 👇
#EconSky 1/n
#EconSky 1/n