Development economists have considered physical infrastructure to be a precondition for industrialization and economic development. Yet, two issues remain to be addressed in the literature. First, while proper identification of the causal effectiveness of infrastructure in reducing poverty is...

In the already very rich and crowded literature on education interventions, the use of test scores to capture students’ cognitive abilities has been the norm when measuring the impact. We show that even in randomized controlled trials (RCTs), estimated treatment effects on the true latent...

This study investigates the peer effects of a speed competition on educational outcomes in self-learning at the right level program for primary school students in Bangladesh. Specifically, we examine the peer effects of speed of problem-solving (time) on math scores (score) using students’...

This paper examines business performance and crisis mitigation strategies among micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Indonesia during the COVID-19 pandemic. We utilize a new primary data set based on administrative records, survey data, and follow-up interviews with merchants...

Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are recognized as crucial drivers of economic development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. The advent of digital platforms, characterized by economies of scale and significant cross-network externalities in two-sided markets,...

In this paper, we review the overall micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise landscape in Asia, including the challenges and constraints faced by enterprises in physical (offline) and online markets. We then explore the unique circumstances and externalities that arise due to the special...