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Development economics examines the economic and social challenges that shape human well-being, inequality, and long-term development. Differences in access to education, health, employment opportunities, and public safety can create persistent disparities across households, communities, and regions. Understanding how economic conditions and public policies influence these outcomes is important for designing effective and equitable development strategies.
This research agenda studies how inequality, institutions, and socioeconomic conditions affect human behavior and development outcomes in low- and middle-income countries. Current projects examine topics such as inequality and social mobility, crime and violence, and the role of government programs and local institutions in shaping economic opportunity and social welfare.
Team
Dr. Akito Kamei (Lead)
Marytell A. Castellanos
Joshua M. Torres
Luciano A. Quintana
Current Projects
Project 1: Inequality and Intergenerational Persistence in Mexico: A Subnational Great Gatsby Curve Using EMOVI 2023
Economic inequality can shape opportunities across generations, affecting whether children are able to achieve better living standards than their parents. This project examines the relationship between inequality and social mobility across different regions and demographic groups in Mexico using data from the EMOVI 2023 survey. The research explores how strongly family background influences economic outcomes and whether higher inequality is associated with lower intergenerational mobility. The project also studies how these relationships differ across rural and urban areas, gender, and age groups, contributing to broader discussions on inequality, opportunity, and social mobility in Mexico.
UP Researchers: Marytell Arciniega Castellanos
Project 2: Inequality, Economic Conditions, and Crime Types: Evidence from Mexican Municipalities
Crime and violence are closely connected to economic and social conditions, yet different types of crime may respond differently to inequality, unemployment, and local economic activity. This project examines how municipal characteristics such as income inequality, labor market conditions, population size, and mental health are associated with crime patterns across municipalities in Mexico. Using nationwide municipal-level data, the research explores how economic and social factors relate to different categories of crime, including property crimes, domestic violence, and homicide. The project highlights how inequality and economic conditions shape public safety outcomes and contributes to understanding the social and economic dimensions of crime in urban and regional development.
UP Researchers: Joshua M. Torres and Akito Kamei
Project 3: Child Labor, Workplace Risks, and Health Outcomes in Mexico
Child labor remains a major concern in developing countries, yet not all forms of work may affect children in the same way. This project examines whether children working in hazardous environments experience worse health outcomes than those engaged in other types of work or those who do not work. Using data from Mexico’s National Child Labor Survey (ENTI 2022), the study explores how different workplace risks are associated with a wide range of health symptoms. The research contributes to a better understanding of the consequences of hazardous child labor and provides empirical evidence relevant to ongoing policy discussions about the measurement, regulation, and prevention of child labor.
UP Researchers: Luciano A. Quintana, Enrique Minor, and Akito Kamei
With: Hyuk Harry Son (Northeastern University, USA)
Journal Publications
Millions of children around the world continue to work in hazardous environments that threaten their health, safety, and long-term development. Understanding which children are most at risk is important for designing effective policies to prevent dangerous forms of child labour. This study examines how household conditions, poverty, and parental absence are associated with hazardous child labour in Nepal using the country’s first nationally representative survey containing detailed information on children’s working conditions.
The research finds that children from poorer households and those living without parental care face a substantially higher risk of engaging in hazardous labour. The study highlights the importance of family structure, economic vulnerability, and social protection in shaping children’s working environments and contributes to policy discussions on child welfare and poverty reduction.
UP Researcher: Akito Kamei
Journal of International Development, 2018
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