Climate change is associated with an increasing frequency of extreme weather events, which can severely reduce people's welfare, especially in the Global South. Here, we analyse the impacts of rainfall shocks - including lacking and excessive rains - on economic and social outcomes, using...

We propose a systemic analytical approach that links green jobs with sustainable agricultural technologies adoption, considering a gender perspective. In addition, we identify factors (from producers and the environment) that influence the use (or lack thereof) of this technologies. This...

The ability of countries in Latin America to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century, the target set by the Paris Agreement, will depend critically on citizen support. To gauge this support, we administered a contingent valuation survey to representative samples in seven...

This study evaluates the impact of incorporating mixed reality-including both augmented and virtual reality-into auto-mechanics training for students enrolled in selected public technical technological institutes in Ecuador. The intervention aims to enhance students' understanding of automotive...

This report aims to support Ecuador in identifying priority marine and coastal areas for conservation within its territorial sea, considering its strategic goals as described in its 2015-2030 National Biodiversity Strategy and its commitment to the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity...

At the fourteenth session of the Regional Conference on Women in Latin America and the Caribbean, just weeks before the onset of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, the region’s governments undertook to “implement gender-sensitive countercyclical policies, in order to mitigate the...

The popular and solidarity economy (PSE) plays a vital role in the economic and social development of Ecuador, fostering inclusion, employment, and the sustainability of local economies. This study aims to develop an index that assesses the sustainability levels of PSE organizations in Ecuador...

This paper studies the impact of a World Bank program aimed at promoting access to finance for micro, small, and medium-size enterprises in Ecuador. A staggered difference-in-differences method is used to estimate the impact of the program on 2,035 participant firms during 2019-23. The findings...

We propose a systemic analytical approach that links green jobs with sustainable agricultural technologies adoption, considering a gender perspective. In addition, we identify factors (from producers and the environment) that influence the use (or lack thereof) of this technologies. This...

This research examines the spatial spillovers of public capital on gross value added across 216 cantons in continental Ecuador. The investigation is conducted within the framework of Spatial Econometrics, utilizing various model specifications and spatial weight matrices, complemented by a Cobb...

Since 2007, the Ecuadorian government has required teacher candidates to pass cognitive and knowledge tests before they are allowed to participate in merit-based competitions for tenured positions. We evaluate this policy by linking administrative teacher information to data from an experimental...

This study examines the dynamics of how ideas about entrepreneurship are transmitted from Public Organizations (POs) and Non-Public Organizations (NPOs) to Indigenous entrepreneurs, using a case study in Ecuador based on 29 interviews and field observations. Employing the concept of...

This study explores the role of solidarity finance in promoting local development and the empowerment of marginalized communities through financial inclusion and access to community credits. It focuses on how solidarity-based financial mechanisms provide accessible credit with fewer barriers,...

Climate change is associated with an increasing frequency of extreme weather events, which can severely reduce people's welfare, especially in the Global South. Here, we analyse the impacts of rainfall shocks - including lacking and excessive rains - on economic and social outcomes, using...

This paper investigates the causal effects of central-to-local government transfers on local economic activity in Ecuador, utilizing exogenous variation from a reform in the intergovernmental transfer formula implemented in 2018. Addressing gaps in the fiscal decentralization literature, this...

Entrepreneurship plays a crucial role in driving innovation, productivity, and economic growth, with universities emerging as key actors within entrepreneurial ecosystems. This study seeks to expand the understanding on the role of Latin American universities on entrepreneurial ecosystems by...

The ability of countries in Latin America to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by mid-century, the target set by the Paris Agreement, will depend critically on citizen support. To gauge this support, we administered a contingent valuation survey to representative samples in seven...

We study how poorly-behaved children affect learning and other outcomes of their peers using data from a unique experiment in Ecuador. Within each school, students were randomly assigned to classrooms in every grade for seven consecutive grades, between kindergarten and 6th grade. Children with...

This study examines the relationship between banking sector development (credit and deposits) and economic growth in Ecuador, using quarterly data for the period 2000-2022. An ARDL approach with Bound Test cointegration is employed, incorporating structural breaks using the Bai-Perron test and...

The increasing urgency of climate change has prompted a global shift toward sustainable consumption, with organic food emerging as a viable alternative. This study investigates the role of environmental knowledge (EK), environmental concern (EC), and moral obligation (MO) in shaping organic...

A growth mindset-a belief that intelligence is malleable rather than a fixed trait-is a crucial factor for educational success. I investigate whether a growth mindset also plays a role in students' post-graduation life outcomes, specifically, in the pursuit of higher education in a nationwide...

A growth mindset-a belief that intelligence is malleable rather than a fixed trait-is a crucial factor for educational success. I investigate whether a growth mindset also plays a role in students' post-graduation life outcomes, specifically, in the pursuit of higher education in a nationwide...

We study the impact of classroom rank on children's learning using a unique experiment from Ecuador. Within each school, students were randomly assigned to classrooms in every grade between kindergarten and 6th grade. Students with the same ability can have different classroom ranks because of...

We partner with Ecuador's government to implement a centralized school choice system using a Deferred Acceptance algorithm in Manta. Our study evaluates the welfare impact of transitioning from a distance-based assignment system to one that incorporates families' preferences. Results show that...

This paper studies the long-run effects of concertaje, a forced labor system from the Spanish colonial era in Ecuador that coerced indigenous workers in rural estates after indebting them. I collected and digitized historical tax records (1800) and connected them to contemporary ones (2010s) via...

While indigenous movements often keep a deliberate distance from their states, political connections can be important to effect policy change. How do indigenous organizations navigate this challenge? This article analyses the electoral strategies of 19 indigenous organizations during elections...

The European Union's (EU) Global Health Strategy calls for open and strategic autonomy in the field of pharmaceuticals, which would lead to the redesign of EU global supply and value chains as well as trade relations. As the EU and Germany are seeking to diversify their trade partners, the...

The COVID-19 pandemic generated diverse impacts and responses in agricultural value chains worldwide. Cocoa is a key crop for Ecuadorian exports, and the analysis of effects the pandemic had on value chain actors contributes to the understanding of their individual capacities to coping with a...

El documento tiene como objetivo identificar oportunidades y barreras y proponer recomendaciones para escalar iniciativas innovadoras de bioeconomía avanzada que contribuyan a un desarrollo productivo sostenible e inclusivo en el Ecuador. Se destacan cinco oportunidades: i) Ecuador como país...

Internationalisation is a way for companies' growth and economic development in transition economies with the potential to contribute to a more sustainable world. Social and solidarity economy cooperatives (SSECs) have a lower internationalisation trend than developed economy companies due to...

In many countries of the Global South, transmission network expansion faces unique challenges due to the diversity of available resources and specific geographic conditions. These challenges are particularly evident in regions with complex geographies, such as the Andean region, where elevation...