Charles Kenny

Aiming High

A piece on Addis, Paris, New York, post-2015 and financing for development for the IMF's Finance and Development.

Where a Higher Minimum Wage Hurts the Poor

... In very poor countries.  For @BW.

How the World Is Wiping Out Killer Diseases

Real hope for the eradication of polio, measles, rubella, and maybe malaria.  For @BW.

 

 

  


 

Why the U.S. Shouldn't Be so Focused on the Danger of 'Failed States'

Because there are less of them.  For @BW.

The River That Swallows All Dams

A piece with John Norris for Foreign Policy on the history of dams at Inga on the Congo.  TLDR: its depressing.

Goal 1—End Poverty in All its Forms Everywhere

A piece for the UN Chronicle on SDG goal one target one on poverty, pointing out it is unreachable by definition.

Eight months until new development goals are agreed. Then what?

There is no doubt that a new set of development goals will be agreed this year but time is fast running out to make sure they matter.  For The Guardian.

MDGs to SDGs: Have We Lost the Plot?

A CGD Essay previously published as an article on the SDGs and MDGs in Politica Exterior (¿Hemos perdido el rumbo? De los ODM a los ODS).

The Impact of Gavi on Vaccination Rates: Regression Discontinuity Evidence

A working paper with Justin Sandefur, Sarah Dykstra and Amanda Glassman.  Since 2001, an aid consortium known as Gavi has accounted for over half of vaccination expenditure in the 75 eligible countries with an initial per capita GNI below $1,000. Regression discontinuity (RD) estimates show aid significantly displaced other immunization efforts and failed to increase vaccination rates for diseases covered by cheap, existing vaccines. For some newer and more expensive vaccines, i.e., Hib and rotavirus, we found large effects on vaccination and limited fungibility, though statistical significance is not robust. These RD estimates apply to middle-income countries near Gavi's eligibility threshold, and cannot rule out differential effects for the poorest countries.  There's a policy brief that's an easier read.  A revsised version (now with fewer results!) was published in the Journal of Development Economics.

Why the Developing World Won't Catch the U.S. Economy's Cold

Developing countries are increasingly robust to shocks.  For @BW.

How the World Bank Should Help the Planet's Poorest: Pay Them

The World Bank is facing a bunch of crises --this might be a way out.  For @BW.

The Good Old Days Were Fine. These Days Are Better

Anyone who wants to go back to the 50's is old, white, male, hetero and (still) stupid. For @BW.

Why Soaking the Rich Won't Fix Income Inequality

Misleading title: soaking the rich would help.  But the current US tax regime is bad at that. For @BW.

Who’s Afraid of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank?

The US response to the AIIB is pathetic.  For @BW.

Clash of Civilizations? There's No Such Thing

Huntington's thesis isn't doing so well with the test of time.  For @BW.

The U.S. Can't Fix a Broken Patent System Alone

US patent system is terrible.  So is China's --time for a deal.  For @BW.

Why the World Is So Bad at Tracking Dirty Money

FATF is evil and incompetent.  For @BW.  

On Trade and Immigration, the GOP Has It Backward

Trade should be more of a political hot potato.  For @BW.

On Child Vaccines, the U.S. Is Worse Than Libya and 109 Other Countries

US vaccination rates are terrible --for @BW.

Lessons From Africa's Hard-Won Victory Over Ebola

We need a stronger WHO and more research.  For @BW.

How the Decline of Arranged Marriages Helps the Fight Against Poverty

More and more people are getting married for love.  Yay.  For @BW.

Bill and Melinda Gates Want the UN to Get Real

The new SDGs --impossibly broad.  For @BW.

How the Collapse of Oil Hurts Poor Countries

The oil curse --still meh.  For @BW.

How Optimism Strengthens Economies

Smile: your GDP depends on it.  For @BW.

Fighting Disease, Not Terrorism, Will Save More Lives in 2015

Terror kills hardly anyone.  Disease kills millions.  For @BW.