Selected work (see CV for full list)
Working papers
"Weather shocks, mortality, and adaptation: Experimental evidence from Uganda"
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist and A. Guariso)
Working paper IIES, 2022
"Market access for quality and demand for modern technologies"
(with T. Bold, S. Ghisolfi, and F. Nsonzi)
Working paper IIES, 2022
"The Lost Human Capital: Teacher Knowledge and Student Achievement in Africa"
(with Tessa Bold, D. Filmer, E. Molina)
Policy Research Working paper 8849, World Bank, 2019
“Effect of a Micro Entrepreneur-based Community Health Delivery Program on Under-five Mortality in Uganda: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist, A. Guariso, and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
CEPR Discussion Paper 11515, 2016
“What Do Teachers Know and Do? Does it Matter?”
(with Tessa Bold, D. Filmer, G. Martin, E. Molina, B. Stacy, C. Rockmore, and W. Wane)
Policy Research Working Paper 7956, Background Paper for the World Development Report 2018
“Tuning in the Market Signal: Estimating Impact of Access to Market Prices in Partial vs. General Equilibrium"
(with T. Bold and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
Working Paper, IIES, 2017
“Free Education: Evidence from a Policy Experiment in Cambodia”
(with M. Cheung, M. Iwanowsky, and A. Madestam)
Working Paper, IIES, 2015
Peer-reviewed articles (recent/most cited, see CV for full list)
"Market Access and Quality Upgrading: Evidence from Four Field Experiments"
(with T. Bold, S. Ghisolfi, and F. Nsonzi)
American Economic Review 2022, 2022, 123(8): 2518-50.
"Can Good Products Drive Out Bad? A Randomized Intervention in the Antimalarial Medicine Market in Uganda"
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2021;, jvab053.
"COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy in Low and Middle Income Countries, and Implications for Messaging"
(with A.M. Mobarak, S.B. Omer [corresponding authors], et al.)
Nature Medicine 2021, 27: 1385-1394.
“Analysis of clinical knowledge, absenteeism and availability of resources for maternal and child health: a cross-sectional quality of care study in 10 African countries”
(with L. Di Giorgio, D. Evans, M. Lindelow, S.N. Nguyen, W. Wane, A. Welander Tärneberg)
BMJ Global Health, 2020;5:e003377.
“Reducing Child Mortality in the Last Mile: Experimental Evidence on Community Health Promoters in Uganda”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist, A. Guariso, and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
American Economic Journal: Applied, 2019, 11(3):155-192.
“Incentivizing Safer Sexual Behavior: Evidence from a Lottery Experiment on HIV Prevention”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nyqvist, L. Corno, D. de Walque)
American Economic Journal: Applied, 2018, 10(3): 287–314
“Enrollment Without Learning: Teacher Effort, Knowledge, and Skill in Primary Schools in Africa"
(with Tessa Bold, D. Filmer, G. Martin, E. Molina, B. Stacy, W. Wane)
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2017, Volume 31 (4): 185-204
"Lemon Technologies and Adoption: Measurement, Theory and Evidence from Agricultural Markets in Uganda”
(with Tessa Bold, K. Kaizzi, D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2017, 132 (3): 1055-1100
“Experimental Evidence on the Long-Run Impact of Community Based Monitoring”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist and D. de Walque)
American Economic Journal: Applied, 2017, 9(1): 33-69
“Bribes, Lobbying, and Development"
(with B. Harstad)
American Political Science Review, 2013, 105(1): 1-18
“The Power of Information in Public Services: Evidence from Education in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Journal of Public Economics, 2011, 95 (7-8): 956-966
“Power to the People: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment of a Community-Based Monitoring Project in Uganda”
(with M. Bjorkman)
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2009, 124:2: 735-769
“Working for God? Evidence from a Change in Financing of Not-for-profit Health Care Providers in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2010, 8(6):1159–1178
“When is Community-based Monitoring Effective? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Primary Health in Uganda”
(with M. Björkman)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2010, 2-3: 571-581
“Getting Prices Right: The Impact of the Market Information System in Uganda”
(with D. Yanagizawa)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2009, 7(2–3): 435-445
“Eight Questions about Corruption”
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2005, 19 (5): 19-42
(Translated and reprinted in Polish, Czech and Chinese)
“Are Corruption and Taxation Really Harmful to Growth? Firm Level Evidence”
(with R. Fisman)
Journal of Development Economics, 2007, 83 (1): 63-75
“Political Budget Cycles: Do They Differ Across Countries and Why?”
(with M. Shi)
Journal of Public Economics, 2006, 90 (8-9): 1367-1389
“Local Capture: Evidence from a Central Government Transfer Program in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2004, vol. 119 (2): 679-706
“Who Must Pay Bribes and How Much? Evidence from a Cross Section of Firms”
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2003, vol. 118 (1): 207-30
“Fighting Corruption to Improve Schooling: Evidence from a Newspaper Campaign in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2005, 3 (2-3): 259-267
“Using Micro-Surveys to Measure and Explain Corruption”
(with R. Reinikka)
World Development, 2006, 34 (2): pp. 359-370
“Why Conditional Aid Does Not Work and What Can Be Done About It?”
Journal of Development Economics, 2003, 70 (2), 381-402
“Political Instability, Corruption and Policy Formation: The Case of Environmental Policy”
(with P.G. Fredriksson)
Journal of Public Economics, 2003, 87 (7), 1383-1405
“Foreign Aid and Rent-seeking”
Journal of International Economics, 2000, 51 (2), 437-461
“What Explains the Success or Failure of Structural Adjustment Programmes?
(with D. Dollar)
The Economic Journal, 2000, 110 (466), 894-917
“When is Foreign Aid Policy Credible? Aid Dependence and Conditionality”
Journal of Development Economics, 2000, 61 (1), 61-84
“Aid, Growth and Democracy”
Economics & Politics, 1999, 11 (3), 275-297
“Investment, Property Rights and Political Instability: Theory and Evidence”
European Economic Review, 1998, 42 (7), 1317-1341
Working papers
"Weather shocks, mortality, and adaptation: Experimental evidence from Uganda"
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist and A. Guariso)
Working paper IIES, 2022
"Market access for quality and demand for modern technologies"
(with T. Bold, S. Ghisolfi, and F. Nsonzi)
Working paper IIES, 2022
"The Lost Human Capital: Teacher Knowledge and Student Achievement in Africa"
(with Tessa Bold, D. Filmer, E. Molina)
Policy Research Working paper 8849, World Bank, 2019
“Effect of a Micro Entrepreneur-based Community Health Delivery Program on Under-five Mortality in Uganda: A Cluster-randomized Controlled Trial”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist, A. Guariso, and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
CEPR Discussion Paper 11515, 2016
“What Do Teachers Know and Do? Does it Matter?”
(with Tessa Bold, D. Filmer, G. Martin, E. Molina, B. Stacy, C. Rockmore, and W. Wane)
Policy Research Working Paper 7956, Background Paper for the World Development Report 2018
“Tuning in the Market Signal: Estimating Impact of Access to Market Prices in Partial vs. General Equilibrium"
(with T. Bold and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
Working Paper, IIES, 2017
“Free Education: Evidence from a Policy Experiment in Cambodia”
(with M. Cheung, M. Iwanowsky, and A. Madestam)
Working Paper, IIES, 2015
Peer-reviewed articles (recent/most cited, see CV for full list)
"Market Access and Quality Upgrading: Evidence from Four Field Experiments"
(with T. Bold, S. Ghisolfi, and F. Nsonzi)
American Economic Review 2022, 2022, 123(8): 2518-50.
"Can Good Products Drive Out Bad? A Randomized Intervention in the Antimalarial Medicine Market in Uganda"
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2021;, jvab053.
"COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance and Hesitancy in Low and Middle Income Countries, and Implications for Messaging"
(with A.M. Mobarak, S.B. Omer [corresponding authors], et al.)
Nature Medicine 2021, 27: 1385-1394.
“Analysis of clinical knowledge, absenteeism and availability of resources for maternal and child health: a cross-sectional quality of care study in 10 African countries”
(with L. Di Giorgio, D. Evans, M. Lindelow, S.N. Nguyen, W. Wane, A. Welander Tärneberg)
BMJ Global Health, 2020;5:e003377.
“Reducing Child Mortality in the Last Mile: Experimental Evidence on Community Health Promoters in Uganda”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist, A. Guariso, and D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
American Economic Journal: Applied, 2019, 11(3):155-192.
“Incentivizing Safer Sexual Behavior: Evidence from a Lottery Experiment on HIV Prevention”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nyqvist, L. Corno, D. de Walque)
American Economic Journal: Applied, 2018, 10(3): 287–314
“Enrollment Without Learning: Teacher Effort, Knowledge, and Skill in Primary Schools in Africa"
(with Tessa Bold, D. Filmer, G. Martin, E. Molina, B. Stacy, W. Wane)
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2017, Volume 31 (4): 185-204
"Lemon Technologies and Adoption: Measurement, Theory and Evidence from Agricultural Markets in Uganda”
(with Tessa Bold, K. Kaizzi, D. Yanagizawa-Drott)
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2017, 132 (3): 1055-1100
“Experimental Evidence on the Long-Run Impact of Community Based Monitoring”
(with M. Bjorkman-Nykvist and D. de Walque)
American Economic Journal: Applied, 2017, 9(1): 33-69
“Bribes, Lobbying, and Development"
(with B. Harstad)
American Political Science Review, 2013, 105(1): 1-18
“The Power of Information in Public Services: Evidence from Education in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Journal of Public Economics, 2011, 95 (7-8): 956-966
“Power to the People: Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment of a Community-Based Monitoring Project in Uganda”
(with M. Bjorkman)
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2009, 124:2: 735-769
“Working for God? Evidence from a Change in Financing of Not-for-profit Health Care Providers in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2010, 8(6):1159–1178
“When is Community-based Monitoring Effective? Evidence from a Randomized Experiment in Primary Health in Uganda”
(with M. Björkman)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2010, 2-3: 571-581
“Getting Prices Right: The Impact of the Market Information System in Uganda”
(with D. Yanagizawa)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2009, 7(2–3): 435-445
“Eight Questions about Corruption”
Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2005, 19 (5): 19-42
(Translated and reprinted in Polish, Czech and Chinese)
“Are Corruption and Taxation Really Harmful to Growth? Firm Level Evidence”
(with R. Fisman)
Journal of Development Economics, 2007, 83 (1): 63-75
“Political Budget Cycles: Do They Differ Across Countries and Why?”
(with M. Shi)
Journal of Public Economics, 2006, 90 (8-9): 1367-1389
“Local Capture: Evidence from a Central Government Transfer Program in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2004, vol. 119 (2): 679-706
“Who Must Pay Bribes and How Much? Evidence from a Cross Section of Firms”
Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2003, vol. 118 (1): 207-30
“Fighting Corruption to Improve Schooling: Evidence from a Newspaper Campaign in Uganda”
(with R. Reinikka)
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2005, 3 (2-3): 259-267
“Using Micro-Surveys to Measure and Explain Corruption”
(with R. Reinikka)
World Development, 2006, 34 (2): pp. 359-370
“Why Conditional Aid Does Not Work and What Can Be Done About It?”
Journal of Development Economics, 2003, 70 (2), 381-402
“Political Instability, Corruption and Policy Formation: The Case of Environmental Policy”
(with P.G. Fredriksson)
Journal of Public Economics, 2003, 87 (7), 1383-1405
“Foreign Aid and Rent-seeking”
Journal of International Economics, 2000, 51 (2), 437-461
“What Explains the Success or Failure of Structural Adjustment Programmes?
(with D. Dollar)
The Economic Journal, 2000, 110 (466), 894-917
“When is Foreign Aid Policy Credible? Aid Dependence and Conditionality”
Journal of Development Economics, 2000, 61 (1), 61-84
“Aid, Growth and Democracy”
Economics & Politics, 1999, 11 (3), 275-297
“Investment, Property Rights and Political Instability: Theory and Evidence”
European Economic Review, 1998, 42 (7), 1317-1341