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My research is in development economics, with a regional focus on Sub-Saharan Africa, and primarily utilises large-scale field-experiments. My research concentrates on two broad topics. The first examines the impact of digital financial services, such as mobile money and mobile banking services, on female-owned enterprises and their households. The second studies the impact of anti-poverty programs, such as cash transfers and graduation programs, on household welfare and women’s empowerment. I also have studies looking at the impact of role models on secondary school students’ educational attainment and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on household welfare.
Recent work by Emma Riley
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Empowering women through digital financial services
Increasing women’s use of a digital financial service in Tanzania, mobile money, empowered women and led to improvements in women’s control over their finances.
Published 13.08.24
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Increasing female enterprise growth through mobile money: Experimental evidence from Uganda
Disbursing microfinance loans through mobile money accounts empowers female entrepreneurs to resist pressure to share loans with others
Published 12.05.21
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Going to the movies can help you at school
Watching Queen of Katwe, a movie featuring an inspiring role model, improved Ugandan secondary school students’ national exam scores
Published 03.09.18