Spring 2023 Development Economics Challenge Scoping Projects
Scoping Projects
The Development Economics Challenge provides opportunities for junior researchers to take leadership roles on projects in which they are interested and supports their efforts to bring innovation to the field of development economics.
Researchers are encouraged to first gain an in-depth understanding of the context in which they wish to work and to test the feasibility of their ideas. While support for such explorative work is limited in the wider fundraising ecosystem, the Development Economics Challenge fills this gap by providing support for “scoping projects” during every funding round.
Typically less than $10,000, these “scoping grants” cover travel costs, facilitate conversations with policymakers, and, in some cases, support small-scale feasibility studies.
Explore the scoping work that was funded through the Spring 2023 Development Economics Challenge below.
Sam Wang – University of California, Berkeley – $5,900 – Price Seasonality and Consumption Smoothing
This project explores how high inflation and price fluctuations affect small businesses’ ability to sustain sales and customer relationships in low-income countries. Focusing on microenterprises in Lagos, Nigeria, the study tests whether helping firms credibly communicate inflation-driven cost increases can reduce customer resistance to price changes. In a randomized pilot with 158 service-sector firms, providing transparent cost information increased customer sympathy toward price adjustments, though overall sales effects were mixed due to limited statistical power. Building on these findings, the research will scale to assess how inflation transparency can help entrepreneurs maintain demand and stability in volatile economies.
Leila Bugha – University of California, Berkeley – $5,000 – Spatial mismatch and employment in African cities
This project investigates how city geography and transportation barriers affect access to jobs in major urban centers across Nigeria and Ghana. Combining satellite imagery, spatial data, and household surveys, the study develops new measures of city “shape” to examine how physical layout and infrastructure influence labor market outcomes, particularly for women. Preliminary analysis reveals that sprawling or fragmented urban forms are associated with weaker employment outcomes, though effects differ by gender and income group. By linking city design to inclusive economic growth, the research highlights how urban planning and transport investments can improve employment opportunities in rapidly expanding African cities.
Joaquin Bello Fuenzalida – University of California, Berkeley – $5,000 – The Effect of Homeownership Subsidies
This project examines how government housing subsidies in Chile affect families’ education and labor outcomes. Using administrative data and a regression discontinuity design based on subsidy eligibility scores, the study finds that large homeownership subsidies improve children’s secondary school performance while smaller subsidies show no overall effect. The findings highlight how housing policy design can shape intergenerational opportunity through both financial access and neighborhood environments.
Javier Feinmann – University of California, Berkeley – $5,000 – How Education Shapes Entrepreneurship
This project investigates how access to higher education influences social mobility and economic opportunity in Brazil, where public universities are free but highly selective. Using detailed administrative data on exam scores, college attendance, and labor market outcomes, the study reveals that while public university admissions are income-neutral once academic performance is accounted for, elite colleges remain heavily skewed toward wealthier students. By modeling the effects of policies like affirmative action and subsidized loans, the research shows that both increase mobility for low-income students, with subsidized loans generating broader gains. The findings illuminate how higher education policy can reduce inequality and expand opportunity in emerging economies.
Helena Archer – University of California, Berkeley – $5,000 – Tracking pharmacy-based distribution of PrEP for people who sell sex
This project evaluates whether expanding access to HIV prevention medication through pharmacies can improve adherence among women who sell sex in Zimbabwe. Partnering with the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research Zimbabwe (CeSHHAR), the project developed and deployed a digital system to track PrEP refills at both clinics and pharmacies within a randomized controlled trial. Early enrollment results show strong interest in pharmacy-based refills, suggesting this model could reduce barriers to ongoing PrEP use for high-risk populations. Findings will inform policies to scale community-based delivery of HIV prevention services across sub-Saharan Africa.
Daniela Cruzat Paz – University of California, Berkeley – $5,000 – Food Deserts and Market Integration
This project evaluates how Walmart’s “Imperfect but Good” initiative, which sells cosmetically imperfect fruits and vegetables at reduced prices, affects consumer behavior and supplier outcomes in Chile. Using administrative data on millions of daily transactions, the study finds that fruit and vegetable purchases increased significantly following the program’s rollout, particularly among lower-income households. These insights will inform policies and retail strategies aimed at reducing food waste while improving access to affordable, nutritious foods.
Uyanga Byambaa – University of California, Berkeley – $4,640 – The impact of chess education on student performance
This project evaluates whether introducing chess instruction in primary schools can enhance students’ cognitive and academic outcomes in low-resource settings. Through a randomized field experiment in Kenya, the study measures how chess training affects test performance, problem-solving, memory, and non-cognitive skills such as perseverance and confidence. Early pilots suggest chess may offer a low-cost, scalable tool for stimulating critical thinking and strategic reasoning where educational investments are limited. Building on promising results, the research is expanding to a national randomized trial in Malawi in partnership with the government.
Simoni Jain – University of California, Berkeley – $2,800 – Informal Workers and Lack of Wage Insurance
