NOVAFRICA Podcast: How Much Should We Trust Observational Estimates? Accumulating Evidence Using Randomized Controlled Trials with Imperfect Compliance
In Episode 4, Season 7 of the NOVAFRICA Sustainable Development Talks, we speak with Professor Jonathan de Quidt from Queen Mary University of London on his paper: “How Much Should We Trust Observational Estimates? Accumulating Evidence Using Randomized Controlled Trials with Imperfect Compliance.” In this episode, Professor de Quidt discusses the motivation behind the study,... Read More
NOVAFRICA Event: CEPR Symposium on Development Economics 2025 at Nova SBE
Coming Up: CEPR Development Economics Symposium 2025 at Nova SBE NOVAFRICA is proud to co-host the CEPR – Centre for Economic Policy Research Development Economics Symposium 2025, in collaboration with the Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE). The symposium will take place on 23–24 April 2025 at the Nova SBE Carcavelos Campus,Lisbon,... Read More
NOVAFRICA Podcast: Serving Countries, Shaping Views: The Impact of Military Conscription on Attitudes Towards Immigrants
In Episode 3, Season 7 of the NOVAFRICA Sustainable Development Talks, we welcome Professor Giacomo De Luca from the Free University of Bozen-Bolzano to explore how military service reforms have influenced national identity and public attitudes toward immigrants across 20 European countries. The discussion is based on his paper “Serving Countries, Shaping Views: The Impact of... Read More
NOVAFRICA Working Paper: For Honor or for Profit? An Experiment on Recruiting Traditional Health Practitioners for Formal Healthcare in Guinea-Bissau
Traditional Health Practitioners (THPs) play a key role in healthcare across Sub-Saharan Africa, but integrating them into formal systems remains challenging. A new NOVAFRICA working paper tests two messaging strategies — emphasizing honor or profit. The study reveals that profit-based messages are more effective in encouraging THPs to engage with formal healthcare, particularly among those... Read More
NOVAFRICA Seminar: Marijke Verpoorten, Institute of Development Policy – University of Antwerp
On Wednesday, April 9th, at 3:30pm (Lisbon time), in Room D -106 of the Carcavelos campus of Nova SBE, the NOVAFRICA Center welcomes Marijke Verpoorten from Institute of Development Policy – University of Antwerp to present her work on “Keeping Gorillas in the Mist: The Environmental Economics of Accelerating the Adoption of Clean Cooking” Abstract Promoting clean cooking... Read More
NOVAFRICA Working Paper: On the Political Economy of Urbanization: Experimental Evidence from Mozambique
New research from NOVAFRICA explores how urban integration policies shape political engagement. Evidence from a randomized program in Mozambique shows that integrating rural migrants into urban areas increases local leaders’ political mobilization and boosts voter participation. The findings suggest that supporting urbanization can align with local governments’ political interests. Title: On the Political Economy of... Read More
NOVAFRICA Seminar: Jonathan de Quidt, Queen Mary University of London
On Wednesday, March 26th, at 3:30pm (Lisbon time), in Room D -122 of the Carcavelos campus of Nova SBE, the NOVAFRICA Center welcomes Jonathan de Quidt from Queen Mary University of London to present his work on “How Much Should We Trust Observational Estimates? Accumulating Evidence Using Randomized Controlled Trials with Imperfect Compliance.” Abstract The... Read More
NOVAFRICA Podcast: Artisanal Mining in Africa
In episode 2 season 7 of the NOVAFRICA Sustainable Development Talks, we welcome Victoire Girard, research faculty at Nova School of Business and Economics and a resident member at NOVAFRICA, to discuss her research on artisanal gold mining in Africa. Her paper, Artisanal Mining in Africa, explores the complex trade-offs between economic livelihoods and environmental... Read More
Six Months in Mozambique: Lessons from the Field
There are experiences that shift the way we see the world, and my time in Mozambique, working with NOVAFRICA, was one of them. Over six months, I had the privilege of stepping out of academic theories and into the daily realities of local small businesses—witnessing firsthand the struggles of survival, job search, and entrepreneurial decision-making... Read More
NOVAFRICA Working Paper: Gangs, Labor Mobility, and Development
A new study in the NOVAFRICA Working Paper Series examines how criminal organizations impact economic development. Using a spatial regression discontinuity design centered on gang-created territorial borders, the research finds that individuals in gang-controlled neighborhoods experience lower income, education, and material well-being compared to those just outside gang territory. A key factor? Restricted mobility, which... Read More