In this episode of Sean Carroll’s Mindscape Podcast, Ted Miguel dives deep into the world of development economics, sharing how randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are transforming the way we understand and tackle global poverty. Drawing on decades of fieldwork in sub-Saharan Africa, Ted unpacks the power of simple, cost-effective interventions like deworming pills and cash transfers. He reflects on the evolution of development economics, and how science can meaningfully inform public policy.
Allegedly does not replicate | Episode 9

In this episode, we sit down with Ted Miguel, a prominent economist and a leading voice in open science, to explore the transformative role of pre-analysis plans and other open science initiatives in research. We discuss how these practices are reshaping the social sciences by fostering transparency, reproducibility, and collaboration. Ted shares his insights on the challenges and opportunities that come with implementing open science frameworks and reflects on their broader impact on academic integrity and policy relevance.
Whether you’re a researcher, a student, or simply curious about the future of scientific inquiry, this episode offers valuable perspectives on how we can all contribute to a more transparent and reliable body of knowledge. Tune in to join the conversation!
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Backstory: Edward Miguel and Paul Niehaus on the General Equilibrium Effects of Cash Transfers
In this episode of backstory, host Aakash Bhalothia interviews development economists Edward Miguel and Paul Niehaus about their Frisch award-winning paper, “General Equilibrium Effects of Cash Transfers: Experimental Evidence from Kenya.” They discuss the paper’s groundbreaking findings on the macroeconomic impacts of cash transfers in rural Kenya. The conversation delves into how the authors started working together, designing long-term experiments, and the broader motivations behind Ted and Paul’s research. The paper is co-authored with Dennis Egger, Johannes Haushofer, and Michael Walker. Here is the link: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.3982/ECTA17945
Lagos to Mombasa Podcast: How Does Climate Impact Conflict?
Is there a relationship between climate change and conflict? In this episode of Lagos to Mombasa, Gyude speaks to Dr. Edward (Ted) Miguel, professor of economics at University of California Berkley, about the impact of rising temperatures, extreme droughts, and floods on competition for resources, and how governments can respond to climate change’s compounding impact in fragile regions.
Skill versus voice in local development
When the state is weak, autocratic traditional chiefs control the provision of public goods. If they don’t have the technical skills that these tasks need, can delegation to technocrats or inclusive decision-making improve outcomes? Katherine Casey tells Tim Phillips about the results of an experiment in Sierra Leone.
What Have We Learned From a Summer of Climate Reckoning?
This summer has been a parade of broken climate records. June was the hottest June and July was not just the hottest July but the hottest month ever on record. At the same time, it looks like we are at the start of a green revolution: Decarbonization efforts have gone far better than what many had hoped for just a few years ago, and renewable energy is getting cheaper.
Does heat make us more aggressive? Researchers put it to the test
Periods of sweltering temperatures like the current global heat wave seem to drive up civil conflicts. But why? To find out, researchers put thousands of people in hot rooms – with surprising results.