How can urban planning balance efficiency, equity, and market forces in rapidly growing cities? A new study based on a large-scale project in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, explores how planning shapes property rights, land values, and social welfare in developing cities. As part of the 2025/2026 NOVAFRICA Seminar Series, We are pleased to welcome Professor... Read More

The NOVAFRICA – International Growth Centre (IGC) at Quelimane 2025 Webinar Series continues with another engaging session focused on climate resilience and community action in developing regions. Join Patrícia Caetano, PhD Candidate at the University of Southern California (USC), for a discussion on: Mobilization, Small Infrastructure, and Floods Discover how community mobilisation and small-scale infrastructure... Read More

Research is as much about people as it is about data. We are excited to hear from NOVAFRICA Nova School of Business and Economics PhD candidate Vitor Cavalcante about his journey in development economics, including his work on NOVAFRICA projects across Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, and Portugal. His PhD research focuses on international migration... Read More

“Gangs, Labor Mobility, and Development” By NOVAFRICA affiliate and Nova School of Business and Economics professor Nikita Melnikov, together with Carlos Schmidt-Padilla and María Micaela Sviatschi. The study explores how criminal organizations affect economic development by analyzing a natural experiment in El Salvador. Using a spatial regression discontinuity design, the authors show that: 🔹 Individuals... Read More

NOVAFRICA is excited to announce the International Conference on Migration at Cabo Verde, bringing together researchers, policymakers, and students to discuss youth emigration and education, high-skilled migration, and their impact on economic development. Organized in partnership with Nova SBE Economics of Education Knowledge Center, Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER) and Universidade de Cabo Verde... Read More

We are pleased to welcome Roberto Hsu Rocha as a new Resident Member at NOVAFRICA Nova School of Business and Economics! Roberto holds a PhD in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on Labor Economics and Development Economics, with an emphasis on informality, entrepreneurship, finance, and the design of public policies.... Read More

How can timely information help communities during floods in Quelimane, Mozambique? In our next session of the NOVAFRICA – International Growth Centre at Quelimane 2025 Webinar Series, Professor Stefan Leeffers from University College London will present on: Information and Floods   📅 Monday, September 22nd, at 1 PM (Lisbon time) / 2 PM Mozambique 📍... Read More

We are delighted to welcome Duncan Webb as a new resident member at NOVAFRICA Nova School of Business and Economics! Duncan is a development economist whose research draws on insights from behavioral economics, with a focus on discrimination, social change, and human capital. We are excited to have him join our community and look forward... Read More