African Scholar Spotlight: Arinze Nwokolo
In this African Scholar spotlight, we speak with Arinze Nwokolo, Assistant Professor at the Lagos Business School in Nigeria. Arinze’s primary research interests focus on development, behavioral, and organizational economics as well as public policy, political economy, and finance.
What drew you into the field of development economics and working with impact evaluations in particular?
Development economics, especially in relation to Nigeria, has always been a focus for me. I studied Accounting and Finance before working as a financial manager and consultant, prior to pursuing my PhD at the University of Navarra in Spain. I was first introduced to randomized evaluations by Pedro Vicente, who was teaching development economics as an invited professor from Nova School of Business and Economics of the Universidade Nova de Lisboa. At the time he was actively conducting an impact evaluation in Nigeria, and it sparked my curiosity about similar work in Africa.
As I delved deeper into the subject, I became familiar with Esther Duflo’s impactful work in India and Africa. This is where my deep interest in the field stemmed from and I have dedicated myself to it ever since.
What are your broad research interests?
My research areas include development economics, labor economics, political economy, organizational economics, and corporate finance. I am particularly interested in understanding the root causes of conflict and terrorism, as well as ethnic discrimination, and some of my work explores strategies for reducing ethnic inequality. On the labor front, I am interested in interventions that can raise productivity, both for individuals and firms.
What are you using initiative funds to do? What research question are you trying to answer and how does it relate to your context?
I'm engaged in a pilot study with support from J-PAL’s Jobs and Opportunity Initiative to explore how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can alleviate stress among female entrepreneurs. While extensive literature exists on employee mental health and strategies to improve firm performance, there's a notable gap regarding mental well-being enhancement for employers, particularly female entrepreneurs who frequently face significant stress and discrimination.
To bridge this gap, I'm implementing an intervention in Lagos that administers CBT through virtual reality specifically tailored for female business owners. The objective is to assess its effectiveness in reducing stress and determining if this leads to improved business performance. The intervention includes strategies like delegation, self-control, anger management, and enhancing understanding of interpersonal dynamics.
Currently, this project is in its pilot phase throughout Lagos state. If the pilot proves successful, we intend to do a full RCT with a larger sample of entrepreneurs. This endeavor holds promise for not only mitigating stress among female entrepreneurs but also potentially revolutionizing strategies for promoting mental health in the entrepreneurial context.
What do you see are the big unanswered research questions in your context that RCTs may be able to help answer? Does this relate to any projects you are excited to work on in the future?
There are lots of unanswered questions when it comes to labor and firms in Africa. I think we're still figuring out the best management practices for small businesses and the role of private equity investments. It's crucial to understand the effectiveness and long-term value of these management strategies, especially in key sectors like health and education, which can often struggle with management challenges. The growth of private equity investment in Africa is notable, but the driving factors and its impact on business growth and job creation remain unclear.
In the job market, attitudes toward work and a willingness to learn new skills are becoming crucial hiring criteria. Improving these characteristics could potentially boost youth employment, which is a persistent challenge. These topics are not just important for individual businesses but have broader implications across Africa.
How has the support you have received from J-PAL assisted you in your career? How can organizations like J-PAL continue to build on the support they provide to local researchers in running randomized evaluations?
J-PAL has been instrumental in my career development, especially through its networking and mentorship opportunities. I'm particularly grateful for the mentorship from J-PAL affiliate, Chris Blattman. His accessibility and responsiveness, along with constant project feedback, have been invaluable. He has also helped me navigate unexpected challenges, such as recruitment difficulties during national elections marked by violence. Chris's perspective on viewing initial rejections as a way to prevent later attrition and his emphasis on recruiting more participants for better engagement were game-changing.
His mentorship also highlighted that the challenges I faced were not unique, offering reassurance and learning from others who have overcome similar issues. It was a lesson in resilience and adaptation.
For future support, J-PAL and partner organizations could greatly aid scholars by fostering collaborations within and beyond its network. Working together not only enriches experience and confidence but also leads to higher-quality projects. This is particularly beneficial for local researchers in Africa, where networks are smaller and fewer people have RCT experience. My own collaboration within the J-PAL network, for instance, deepened my understanding of scaling up interventions, which is markedly different from piloting projects.
Do you have advice to offer other African scholars thinking about a career in economic research?
I encourage researchers to be ambitious in their work, and seek out substantial questions that can be addressed within the African context. There's a tendency to downplay the possibility of tackling significant questions, often because of the perceived need for extensive funding. However, organizations like J-PAL can play a vital role in supporting research that addresses relevant and impactful questions. It is important to identify the big question(s) that genuinely intrigue you because there are many important questions waiting to be explored, and by focusing on your particular area of interest, you can make a meaningful contribution.
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In this post, we speak with Monica Lambon-Quayefio, a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana. Monica’s primary research interests include health economics, spatial econometrics, development, and experimental economics.
This post is part of our ongoing series showcasing the work and perspectives of economists from the African continent who are leading randomized evaluations.
In this post, we speak with Monica Lambon-Quayefio, a senior lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana. Monica’s primary research interests include health economics, spatial econometrics, development, and experimental economics.
What drew you to the field of development economics and, in particular, working with impact evaluations?
The everyday issues I have been surrounded by growing up in Ghana—and even now— drew me to development economics. I was not always interested in impact evaluations; in graduate school, I started to focus on agricultural economics but was unable to write my thesis on my topic of choice due to data issues. As such, I veered into health economics and wrote my PhD thesis on women autonomy and child health outcomes.
When I finished graduate school, impact evaluations had started to become popular among development economists. I was fascinated and thought that they were a neat way to isolate the effects of different interventions. So, I started to look for fellowships to acquire the necessary skills to practice and implement impact evaluations myself. I was also fortunate to work with and receive the support of senior colleagues, such as Robert Darko Osei, at the University of Ghana.
My first time conducting an impact evaluation was with Christopher Udry on an agricultural finance project funded by the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA). We were looking at testing the effectiveness of a digital finance tool to help smallholder farmers get access to finance to grow crops and increase profit. My experience taught me how to set expectations with implementing partners as well as the value of incorporating a qualitative component prior to the launch of a randomized evaluation to better appreciate the study context and ensure that it aligns with the research design.
What are your broad research interests?
My research interests primarily lie in agriculture, women’s empowerment, and children’s health. For instance, I am currently working with Edward Asiedu and BRAC USA on a food security project funded by J-PAL’s King Climate Action Initiative (K-CAI). We are studying how providing agricultural training to farmers on practices and technologies can help them adapt to climate change and improve productivity in Liberia.
In particular, our project is focused on examining the training’s differential impact on women, because they form a large base of the labor force. Furthermore, the country context of Liberia is unique in terms of gender dimensions because the war has caused women to outnumber men in the population, leading to women often being farmers and landowners.
One of your current projects was recently funded by J-PAL Africa’s Digital Identification and Finance Initiative. What research question are you trying to answer through this project?
I am using the funds to pilot an intervention on informal pensions in Ghana, where a sizable proportion of the population works in the informal sector. While workers in the formal sector typically earn pensions for retirement, workers in the informal sector usually have little to no retirement savings. Instead, they depend on financial support from their children and other family members, which is not a guaranteed source of income. Thus, my team wanted to study how an intervention could encourage workers in the informal sector to contribute to their own pensions over time.
The government of Ghana had recently permitted smaller pension companies to extend their services to people in the informal sector, so my research team partnered with an organization with this type of scheme, which was underutilized due to people’s lack of awareness. My team conducted a qualitative study using initiative funds before project implementation to gauge informal workers’ initial attitudes toward the pension scheme. Through this step, we better understood the issues at hand and adjusted the intervention accordingly.
Our first research question is to understand whether training sessions for informal sector workers can lead them to increase their pension contributions. Pension contributions are linked to individual's national identification cards (NID) so our intervention reminds participants of this link to increase their trust in the system. Our second question is to study whether training the participants about special features (relating to pauses or increasing contributions depending on income flow) could increase usage. The results will help inform how these pension schemes can be better designed in the future.
What are some other research projects that you’re most excited about?
I am a co-investigator, alongside Nkechi Owoo, on a project funded by J-PAL’s Jobs and Opportunities Initiative (JOI) to investigate personal motivation training and cultural norms surrounding women-owned businesses in Africa. African women face numerous cultural barriers to their business growth. These include spouses’ curfews, childcare obligations, and travel limitations. Training husbands could help them better understand the importance of business growth for their families, so I am conducting training modules to study the husband’s role in the growth of a woman-owned business.
I am also working with Edward Asiedu on another JOI-funded project to examine the effects of women’s social networks on their businesses. During the Covid-19 pandemic, we created a WhatsApp group for women where they could engage in knowledge sharing and networking related to their businesses. Results indicate that this intervention was highly cost-effective and showed that educational videos on business collaboration as part of the program reduced the likelihood of collaboration with friends and family and increased formal collaboration. Additionally, our preliminary findings show increases in innovation and profitability.
How can organizations like J-PAL continue to build on the support they provide to researchers based in Africa?
I appreciate how J-PAL’s pilot grants allow researchers to test ideas through a small-scale intervention, leading to a better understanding of the issues at hand and the appropriate program modifications. When I was a relatively inexperienced researcher, pilot grants felt more accessible compared to larger RCT grants. Having run three pilot projects now, I am confident in my ability to design interventions, identify threats, and test hypotheses. I find J-PAL’s pilot grant scheme to be helpful to African scholars.
Furthermore, I appreciate J-PAL’s occasional training sessions on impact evaluations. I am currently teaching impact evaluation to PhD students, and I will be receiving instructional support from Clare Hofmeyr, a training manager at J-PAL Africa, as part of J-PAL’s efforts in assisting African scholars with teaching this material.
One area J-PAL could continue to improve upon in its initiative funding model to African scholars is by covering costs upfront. Currently, initiatives require African researchers to pre-finance their projects, which can make implementation difficult if universities are unable to front the costs. Personally, I have seen this result in delays in award setup and funding.
Well noted—this is something we are trying to incorporate into our funding model. Do you have advice to offer other aspiring African scholars thinking about a career in economic research?
Knowing economic theory is different from applying economic knowledge, so I have found it helpful to seek opportunities to apply knowledge and get involved in projects. I am grateful to have worked on projects from design to implementation to analysis alongside Chrisropher Udry and experienced scholars at the University of Ghana. In short, my biggest piece of advice is, “Get your hands dirty!”
Monica Lambon-Quayefio is a Researcher and Lecturer in the Department of Economics at the University of Ghana. Her research interests include health economics, spatial econometrics, development, and experimental economics. Her recent work is focused on neonatal and infant mortality, as well as impact evaluations of remittances on savings and investment in education and asset accumulation. She teaches economics and other quantitative courses at the undergraduate and graduate levels. She has published articles in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Demographic Economics, Review of Development Economics, and PLOS One.
Monica has received a number of fellowships including the Matasa Fellowship from Mastercard Foundation and Institute of Development Studies in the UK, Additional Insights International Research Fellowship from New York University, Structural Transformation of African and Asian Agriculture and Rural Spaces Fellowship from Cornell University, and the African Social Research Initiative Fellowship from the University of Michigan. She has also presented her research work at international conferences such as the PopPov, PEP, and UNU-WIDER.
Over the course of 2022 and 2023, J-PAL is publishing a series of blog posts that highlight the research interests and ongoing evaluations of researchers based in Africa who are working on issues related to poverty and economic growth. Each post will also showcase topics or unanswered questions researchers view as high-priority in their countries and regions, and highlight their advice for aspiring African researchers seeking a career in economics.
To hear more from Monica and meet other researchers based in Africa, watch the following video:
In this spotlight, we speak with Dr. Evans Osabuohien, Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Economics and Development Studies at Covenant University in Nigeria. Evans’s primary research interests relate to international economics, institutional economics, agricultural economics, and the economics of land use.
This post is part of our ongoing series showcasing the work and perspectives of economists from the African continent who are leading randomized evaluations. Through our African Scholars Program, we hope to help create more opportunities for African researchers to advance the research agenda on the continent through randomized evaluations.
In this spotlight, we speak with Dr. Evans Osabuohien, Professor of Economics and Head of the Department of Economics and Development Studies at Covenant University in Nigeria. Evans’s primary research interests relate to international economics, institutional economics, agricultural economics, and the economics of land use.
What drew you to the field of development economics and, in particular, working with impact evaluations?
Growing up in a small town in Delta State, Nigeria, I witnessed firsthand the development challenges and needs that my community faced. My parents (of blessed memory) worked as small-scale farmers, and although my upbringing was not impoverished, I saw the struggles that many households in my community faced.
While pursuing admission for higher education, I spent two years teaching kindergarten, primary and secondary school. This experience ignited my interest in academia and research, and ultimately led me to complete my PhD at Covenant University. Prior to the conclusion of my PhD, I had the opportunity of being hosted at Lund University in Sweden as a Guest Doctoral Fellow funded by the Swedish Institute. Following the completion of my doctoral studies, I was fortunate to secure a postdoctoral fellowship in Germany funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.
During my time in Germany, I delved into impact evaluation for the first time, gaining valuable experience conducting research in agriculture using quasi-experimental methods such as difference-in-differences and propensity score matching. This experience solidified my dedication to research and inspired me to continue exploring ways to improve development outcomes in African communities.
You and your coauthors have recently been funded by J-PAL’s Digital Identification and Finance Initiative. What research question are you trying to answer through this project and how does it relate to your research interests?
Our project titled “Assessing the Effect of Digital and Flexible Payment Options on the Uptake of Health Insurance by the Nigerian Informal Sector” is related to institutional economics as we are investigating the issue of health insurance enrollment among informal sector workers. In Nigeria, most formal sector workers are enrolled into a health insurance program with fees being deducted from their pay. However, for informal sector workers, both health insurance and pension contributions are voluntary and organized by the workers themselves, resulting in low take-up rates.
We are working with the Edo State Health Insurance Commission (EDHIC). We are still in the initial phases of this project but our plan is to leverage local trade unions to encourage take-up of health insurance products among informal workers who are members of the union. We will offer two different payment methods: digital payments (using the EDHIC web portal and dedicated Point of Service) and a flexible option (paying at regular intervals).
What do you think are the big unanswered research questions in your context that RCTs may be able to help answer? Does this relate to any projects you are excited to work on in the future?
One of the open questions relates to my current project, namely how to bring informal sectors into the mainstream with sufficient coverage for their health and retirement needs. In Nigeria and other similar countries, a large portion of the working population is in the informal sector, yet most government policies leave informal sector workers uncovered, so many people remain outside of the social safety net.
In the agricultural sector, a big unanswered question that is well-suited to the RCT method is how we can best use technology to enhance value at each stage of agricultural production and reduce post-harvest losses, which are crucial for food security.
How have organisations like J-PAL and others supported you in your career?
The success I have had in my career owes much to the support I received from various organizations. For instance, my postdoctoral research in Germany funded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation gave me time for research, experience with impact evaluation, and exposure to a global network of researchers. Funding from renowned organizations including J-PAL, the African Economic Research Consortium, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, and the International Food Policy Research Institute, among others, has made my research more credible. It has also provided a valuable network, helping me advance rapidly in my career. Now, I am eager to mentor aspiring researchers and provide them with the kind of support that was crucial to my success.
Do you have advice to offer aspiring African scholars thinking about a career in economic research?
The road to success is not an easy one; it can be rough and tough. To achieve your goals, you will need to have courage, patience, and persistence. It is not a sprint but a marathon that requires endurance and determination to keep on keeping on. Rejection is also part of the process, and it is essential to develop a thick skin to have a high threshold for it. For example, when I submit a paper for publication or a proposal for funding, until it is rejected up to 70 times, I do not give up on the idea!
One must also learn to tailor research proposals to match the requirements of funding organizations. Thus, targeting research efforts appropriately and deciding where to publish papers are essential decisions that impact success. By directing efforts towards the appropriate organizations and publications outlets, the likelihood of success can increase significantly.
In this spotlight, we speak with Nneka Esther Osadolor, a PhD candidate in economics at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Nneka’s primary research interests are broadly in development economics and applied microeconomics, including labor markets, financial inclusion, poverty, inequality, and gender issues.
This post is part of our ongoing series showcasing the work and perspectives of economists from the African continent who are leading randomized evaluations. Through our African Scholars Program, we hope to help create more opportunities for African researchers to advance the research agenda on the continent through randomized evaluations.
In this spotlight, we speak with Nneka Esther Osadolor, a PhD candidate in economics at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. Nneka’s primary research interests are broadly in development economics and applied microeconomics, including labor markets, financial inclusion, poverty, inequality, and gender issues.
What drew you to the field of development economics and working with impact evaluations in particular?
Growing up in a developing economy, I directly experienced the challenges of poverty and inequality and I was driven to seek solutions for these pressing social issues. As an undergraduate, I immersed myself in the study of economics and pursued a range of courses related to development and international relations. These academic pursuits motivated my keen interest in the field of development economics.
Limited access to resources was a significant hurdle, forcing me to rely on outdated textbooks in classes. To expand my knowledge, I turned to online self-study which led me to the discovery of impact evaluations—a research methodology that has gained popularity among African researchers. The appeal of impact evaluations became evident as I delved deeper into their potential as a robust research approach.
While navigating the complexities of the subject matter was not easy, I was motivated to explore other learning avenues, which led me to J-PAL’s Evaluating Social Programs and the MicroMasters programs offered through MIT.
What are you using initiative funds to do? What research question are you trying to answer and how does it relate to your context?
In a grant through the Digital Identification and Finance Initiative in Africa (DigiFI), my coauthors Evans Osabuohien (a fellow African Scholar!), Michael Mba, Owen Omorogbe, Obianuju Nnadozie, and I are assessing the potential for digital payments and flexible payment options to increase health insurance take-up amongst informal workers in Nigeria. The grant will allow us to establish relationships with implementation partners, conduct a needs assessment of the program, and meet with health insurance providers. Our hope is that this project will further our understanding of health insurance markets, the needs of informal sector workers, and the reasons behind why they are unable to access health insurance.
What are the big unanswered research questions in your context that RCTs may be able to help answer? Do you think this relates to any projects you are excited to work on in the future?
Randomized evaluations hold the potential to address numerous research questions. One such question is tackling the size and challenges of the informal work sector, which is particularly significant in Africa. Workers in this sector face suboptimal conditions. Unfortunately, only a small percentage can access the formal labor sector, leaving many struggling in the informal sector, necessitating a systemic solution.
Multiple factors drive people to choose informal work, including limited education, opportunities, or a skills gap. These reasons sparked my interest in our current proposal development grant. We have found that despite the availability of health insurance since 2006, uptake remains below 20 percent. Our goal is to increase uptake while also raising awareness about the importance of health insurance for those in the informal sector.
Randomized evaluations can also be used to answer key questions in the education space, such as improving school attendance and enhancing teaching quality. I'm particularly enthusiastic about J-PAL’s Learning for All Initiative as it will help generate the evidence that can replace intuitive decisions when it comes to education policy, leading to more efficient use of government funds. The ability to craft evidence-based policies is one of the main reasons that randomized evaluations appeal to me.
How has the support from J-PAL assisted you in your career? How can organizations like J-PAL continue to build on the support they provide to local researchers in running randomized evaluations?
Being connected to J-PAL has been transformative. Resource constraints are a significant hurdle for scholars in Africa, and J-PAL's support in providing access to resources like online courses, books, and mentorship—J-PAL connected me to Nathan Fiala for mentoring—has been crucial in shaping my career. The network of scholars within J-PAL has enabled me to seize various opportunities and progress in my research and career. Looking back, exposure to these opportunities several years ago paved the way for my current position. I strongly believe that organizations like J-PAL can continue to assist local researchers by maintaining their current efforts and incorporating feedback from scholars. By offering financial support, mentorship, and access to opportunities, organizations like J-PAL can help unlock Africa's potential. It's encouraging to note that outreach to universities across Africa can yield positive feedback from both students and faculty.
In the second half of 2023, I will be interning with IPA Nigeria through the support of J-PAL Africa. I am hoping to dive more deeply into randomized evaluations, including taking courses, learning from colleagues, and gaining hands-on experience in this field of research. Working with an organization like IPA and with local policymakers will allow me to take what I have learned and apply it practically.
Do you have advice to offer other young aspiring African scholars interested in an academic career?
My advice would be to take a leap and get involved—there are a lot of opportunities out there. I've been on a journey to find my own voice, aiming to support those who need encouragement. Perseverance is key; make the most of online resources and keep nurturing your curiosity. Being in Africa doesn't mean staying in the background; the opportunities are there, waiting to be discovered through active searching. Don't hesitate to connect with others, even if it feels daunting. As an introvert myself, I understand the feeling, but that shouldn't hinder you from seeking mentors: there are people eager to help. Remember, you won't know until you try. Starting with self-education and tapping into the internet is a solid beginning; the sky is not the limit but just the beginning.