Ted’s main research focus is African economic development, including work on the economic causes and consequences of violence; the impact of ethnic divisions on local collective action; interactions between health, education, environment, and productivity for the poor; and methods for transparent social science research. He has conducted field work in Kenya, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and India. Many of the datasets used in his research are posted online, either on the relevant article page (on this website) or on Dataverse.
Spring Cleaning: Rural Water Impacts, Valuation, and Property Rights Institutions
Michael Kremer, Jessica Leino, Edward Miguel, and Alix Peterson
2011
Published Paper
African DevelopmentEnvironment and ClimateHealthEducation and Human CapitalResearch Methodology
Using a randomized evaluation in Kenya, we measure health impacts of spring protection, an investment that improves source water quality. We also estimate households' valuation of spring protect
Government Transfers and Political Support
Marco Manacorda, Edward Miguel, and Andrea Vigorito
2011
Published Paper
HealthEducation and Human CapitalOtherPolitical Economy and Conflict
This paper estimates the impact of a large anti-poverty cash transfer program, the Uruguayan PANES, on political support for the government that implemented it. Using the discontinuity in program as
The Long-run Impact of Bombing Vietnam
Edward Miguel and Gerard Roland
2011
Published Paper
OtherPolitical Economy and Conflict
We investigate the impact of U.S. bombing on later economic development in Vietnam. The Vietnam War featured the most intense bombing campaign in military history and had massive humanitarian costs. W
Re-examining Economic Shocks and Civil Conflict
Edward Miguel and Shanker Satyanath
2011
Published Paper
Environment and ClimatePolitical Economy and Conflict
Miguel, Satyanath, and Ernest Sergenti (2004), henceforth MSS, show that economic growth is negatively related to civil conflict in Africa, using annual rainfall variation as an IV for growth. Anton
Civil War Exposure and Violence
Edward Miguel, Sebastian M. Saiegh, and Shanker Satyanath
2011
Published Paper
OtherPolitical Economy and Conflict
In recent years scholars have begun to focus on the consequences of individuals' exposure to civil war, including its severe health and psychological consequences. Our innovation is to move beyo
Being Surveyed Can Change Later Behavior and Related Parameter Estimates
Alix Peterson Zwane, Jonathan Zinman, Eric Van Dusen, William Pariente, Clair Null, Edward Miguel, Michael Kremer, Dean S. Karlan, Richard Hornbeck, Xavier Gine, Esther Duflo, Florencia Devoto, Bruno
2011
Published Paper
Environment and ClimateHealthEducation and Human CapitalOtherResearch Methodology
Does completing a household survey change the later behavior of those surveyed? In three field studies of health and two of microlending, we randomly assigned subjects to be surveyed about health an
Civil War
Christopher Blattman and Edward Miguel
2010
Published Paper
Political Economy and Conflict
Most nations have experienced an internal armed conflict since 1960. Yet while civil war is central to many nations' development, it has stood at the periphery of economics research and teaching
War and Local Collective Action in Sierra Leone
John Bellows and Edward Miguel
2009
Published Paper
African DevelopmentPolitical Economy and Conflict
We study the brutal 1991-2002 Sierra Leone civil war using nationally representative household data on conflict experiences, postwar economic outcomes, local politics and collective action. Individu
Deworming and Development: Asking the Right Questions, Asking the Questions Right
Donald A. P. Bundy, Michael Kremer, Hoyt Bleakley, Matthew C. H. Jukes, and Edward Miguel
2009
Published Paper
African DevelopmentHealthEducation and Human CapitalResearch Methodology
Two billion people are infected with intestinal worms. In many areas, the majority of schoolchildren are infected, and the World Health Organization (WHO) has called for school-based mass deworming.
Warming Increases the Risk of Civil War in Africa
Marshall B. Burke, Edward Miguel, Shanker Satyanath, John A. Dykema, and David B. Lobell
2009
Published Paper
African DevelopmentEnvironment and ClimatePolitical Economy and Conflict
Armed conflict within nations has had disastrous humanitarian consequences throughout much of the world. Here we undertake the first comprehensive examination of the potential impact of global clima
Incentives to Learn
Michael Kremer, Edward Miguel, and Rebecca Thorton
2009
Published Paper
African DevelopmentHealthEducation and Human Capital
We study a randomized evaluation of a merit scholarship program in which Kenyan girls who scored well on academic exams had school fees paid and received a grant. Girls showed substantial exam score
Individual Ability and Selection into Migration in Kenya
Edward Miguel and Joan Hamory
2009
Working Paper
African DevelopmentHealthEducation and Human CapitalOther
This study exploits a new longitudinal dataset to examine selective migration among 1,500 Kenyan youth originally living in rural areas. We examine whether migration rates are related to individual