Institutions & Political Economy

Legibility—systematised information about citizens—and legal enforcement can produce sustained, cost-effective increases in tax collection.

What has economic research taught us about the aftermath of conflict? Which policies can effectively rebuild communities and create a lasting peace?

The Mobile Salary Payment (MSP) reform in Afghanistan was an ambitious effort to build administrative capacity in one of the world’s most fragile states. Evidence on its impacts sheds light on what helps to improve state performance, and how fragilit...

Living closer to the resettlement sites of ethnic minorities in Malaysia reduced voter’s preference for ethno-nationalistic politics by improving economic outcomes and enhancing the frequency of casual inter-ethnic contact in shared public spaces.

Authoritarian regimes cultivate misperceptions about the quality of democratic institutions and the value of democracy. How did an intervention, providing accurate information to voters in Türkiye, address these misperceptions and affect demand for d...

Climate change is projected to cause an increase in numerous forms of violent human behaviour. Policies like a robust social safety net and political inclusion can help ensure a more peaceful future.

Colonial segregation policies in Mexico City entrenched divisions between Spaniards and indigenous communities, shaping modern economic inequalities because of weak property rights, unequal provision of public goods and enduring social stigma.

How can we measure protests and their impact? How has social media changed the nature and frequency of protests? Where is more research needed?

What can history teach us about cash transfers? How have societies used cash transfers through the ages and what role have they played in countries’ development process?