Working Papers

 Saving Lives through Technology: Mobile Phones and Infant Mortality in Africa  with [Kibrom Abay and Kibrom Tafere] [World Bank Policy Research Working Paper]We provide evidence of the health impact of expansion in access to mobile phones in Africa

Mobile Phones and Local Economic Development: A Global Evidence

 [Working Paper]  (Submitted)Leveraging two decades of satellite data on nightlights and the global expansion of 2G and 3G mobile networks in 3419 subnational regions in 201 countries, I provide global evidence on the effects of mobile phones on local economic development.

Internet Access, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship: Evidence from Africa

with [Georges Houngbonon and Nouhoum Traore] [World Bank Policy Research Working Paper]We explored how access to high-speed Internet in Africa spurred innovation and entrepreneurship in Africa.

Malaria and Human Capital Accumulation

with [Abenezer Zeleke Aklilu  and Aimable Nsabimana]Using administrative data on over a million primary school students in Rwanda, we explore the effects of malaria on student performance. [Draft coming soon!]

Food for Thought: School Feeding and Cognitive Performance in Rwanda

   with [Aimable Nsabimana]   [Version-December 2020]  (Under Review)  We use unique administrative data on students' test scores in a high stake national exam to examine the impact of  Rwanda's school feeding program on student performance.

Natural Resource Discoveries,  Citizen Expectations and Decisions

with [James Cust]   [World Bank Policy Research Working Paper]  How do news of oil and gas discoveries fuel citizen expectations in developing countries? To what extent do households incorporate these discovery-induced expectations in life decisions?

Mines and Minds: Mining Boom and Human Capital Accumulation  

   with [G. Adu , F. Amuakwa-Mensah & Marbuah]  [Working Paper]     What are the spillover effects of mining booms on human capital investment in local communities?

Weather Shocks and Local Corruption in Africa

     with [Franklin Amuakwa-Mensah]   [Working Paper]   We examine the effect of income shocks induced by extreme weather events  on the prevalence of petty corruption in     Africa.

Oil for Food? Oil Spills and Agricultural Productivity

 This paper examines the effect of pollution from oil spillages on the productivity of farmlands in oil rich communities in Nigeria [draft]

Innocent until Stereotyped Guilty? Terrorism and US Immigration Court Decisions

    with [Kweku Opoku-Agyemang]  [Working Paper]   Do terrorist activities on mainland US affect outcomes of asylum application cases in the US? 

 Electricity Provision and Tax Mobilization in Africa

   with [M. Blimpo,  K. Opalo, &  R. Shi ]  [World Bank Working Paper] [Afrobarometer Working Paper]  Does the provision of reliable electricity induce positive attitudes towards tax compliance? 

Reliability Matters! Electricity Outages and Firm Performance in Africa

  How do electricity outages affect firm performance in Africa?  Coverage: World Bank Africa Pulse

Effect of Mining on Income Distribution in Ghana

 with [G. Adu , F. Amuakwa-Mensah & Marbuah]  [Working Paper] Examines the distributional welfare implications of mining booms in Ghana