🆕 How becoming a regional capital redirects urban growth Today on VoxDev, Richard Bluhm (Universität Stuttgart), Christian Lessmann (TU Dresden) & Paul Schaudt (Department of Economics KU Leuven) show that cities that become regional capitals grow faster: https://ow.ly/uQrt50ZHA3I

How becoming a regional capital redirects urban growth

New research using hundreds of administrative reforms worldwide shows that cities that become regional capitals grow faster, especially where political status and market access reinforce one another.

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🆕 Can insurance prevent conflict between herders and farmers? Today on VoxDev, Prof. Kai Gehring (Universität Bern) & Paul Schaudt (Department of Economics KU Leuven) discuss how a livestock insurance scheme reduced drought-induced conflict in Kenya: https://ow.ly/FvOJ50ZALke

Can insurance prevent conflict between herders and farmers?

Droughts fuel violent conflict between pastoralists and farmers across Africa. Evidence from Kenya’s index-based livestock insurance programme shows that satellite-triggered payouts reduce drought-induced conflict by around 25% – and prevent enough deaths to justify the programme’s subsidies on those grounds alone.

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Forthcoming article "Mining for Peace" by @rolandhodler.bsky.social @paulschaudt.bsky.social and @albertovesperoni.bsky.social @eeanews.bsky.social doi.org/10.1093/jeea...

Mining for Peace

Abstract. We study the feasibility of opening new mines in ethnically diverse countries without escalating the risk of conflict. We propose a theoretical m

doi.org

The July 2026 issue of AEJ: Applied Economics (18, 3) is now available. aeaweb.org/issues/851

American Economic Journal: Applied Economics

Vol. 18 No. 3 July 2026

aeaweb.org

Recently accepted by #QJE: “Insuring peace: Index-based livestock insurance, droughts, and conflict,” by Gehring (@kaigehring.bsky.social) and Schaudt (@paulschaudt.bskz.social): doi.org/10.1093/qje/...

Insuring peace: Index-based livestock insurance, droughts, and conflict*

Abstract. We provide quasi-experimental evidence of how an innovative market-based solution using remote-sensing technology can mitigate drought-induced co

doi.org

🚨 JOB ALERT 🚨 2 exciting PreDoc positions in my team at the University of Bern, starting late summer/early fall! Collaborate on cutting-edge research in Political Economy, Development &Behavioral Economics, using experimental and quasi-experimental methods.

The CfP for the #German #Development #Economics (GDE) conference 2025 is out, hosted by #Goethe university in #Frankfurt on June 12-13 (keynote: Lori Beaman). Send us your best development papers: events.gwdg.de/e/gde2025. @heidland.bsky.social @langlotzsarah.bsky.social

I have one additional predoc opening @SIAW_HSG to work on topics in political economy, natural resources, and urbanization. Application deadline is August 10th, 2024.

JOB ALERT: Bruno Conte and I are looking for a full-time pre-doc for an ERC-funded project on structural change. Application deadline: 15/feb Competitive salary + *based in Barcelona*. Ideal for prospective PhD candidates! More info (and apply) here: euraxess.ec.europa.eu/jobs/187492#wh…

RUSTDEC Pre-Doctoral Research Associate | EURAXESS

We are looking for a full-time pre-doctoral Research Associate to support the ERC-funded project – "Rural Structural Transformation in Developing Countries" (RUSTDEC).

euraxess.ec.europa.eu

Some news: I have joined the Board of Reviewing Editors (BoRE) at Science. Part of the remit is to encourage more high-quality economics submissions. So here’s a long-ish thread on why, what, and how you should submit to Science, as well as some details on the editorial process 1/n

Narrow electoral wins by ethnic-minority candidates (UK context) led to increased turnout among whites in the following election. Consistent with a theory of group position and motivational effects of perceived political threat.

Guy Grossman@guygrossman.bsky.social · 3y ago

Accepted last week at #APSR "Turnout Turnaround: Ethnic Minority Victories Mobilize White Voters" (with Stephanie Zonszein). Ungated draft can be found at osf.io/w2dg8/.