ABSTRACT In this paper, we examine the association of mobile money and expenditure patterns, poverty, and inequality following heatwave. This research extends the literature on the consumption smoothing framework of mobile money adoption to its capacity to moderate inequality across local communities. We use household survey data from the Tanzanian National Panel Surveys (TZNPS) between 2010 and 2020. The study explores the spatial distribution of drought shocks from extremely high temperature patterns and low rainfall across waves of panel localities while investigating adaptation mechanisms through increased mobile money agent distribution over the same period. Our findings show that during a drought incidence, mobile money access is found to increase food expenditure and per capita expenditure, and reduce poverty incidence compared to those without access. Also, while increased drought exposure increases the likelihood of inequality, mobile money access reverses this effect. Inequality results are linked to improved financial inclusion.

ABSTRACT In recent decades, parental involvement has gained attention to address the learning crisis faced by children in the Global South. This paper examines whether parental involvement improves learning outcomes of children in India, with a focus on those enrolled in government schools. Using data from the India Human Development Survey (2011–12) and employing ordinary least squares and instrumental variable regression, we find that parental involvement is positively associated with learning outcomes. Children perform better when parents attend parent-teacher association meetings, discuss schoolwork with teachers, and supervise homework. We highlight two potential mechanisms underlying these findings: reduced school absenteeism and increased time spent on homework. Notably, learning outcomes of children in government schools improve more with parental involvement. However, involvement is lower among government school children and parents with lower socio-economic status, which may contribute to achievement gaps. These findings call for action from policymakers to address this disparity.

ABSTRACT For over 30 years, China has defied predictions of the end of its economic ‘miracle’ which began in 1978 under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping. Such predictions first came to prominence from the early 1990s yet only recently have powerful, systemic threats emerged to that period of sustained economic growth that has lasted for almost five decades. China has benefitted from the demographic dividend of a low dependency ratio, compounded by China’s one-child policy which largely reduced the below working age dependency ratio. However, this exaggerated demographic dividend involved a heavy future cost in the form of the demographic cliff. The thesis of this analysis is that the demographic cliff, coupled with excessive debt accumulation since 2008, is rapidly exhausting China’s ability to sustain abnormal GDP growth. Furthermore, systemic features of CPC governance establish a default case for suboptimal decision-making, making mismanagement of the slowdown in Chinese growth likely to compound substantial downside risks to the Chinese economy in the foreseeable future.

ABSTRACT This article explores how the ongoing conflict and mass displacement of civilians in South Sudan has intensified already-normalised harmful gender norms. This article presents quantitative findings from a prevalence survey administered to a sample of women aged 15–64 years, from two Payams in South Sudan, Nimule (Magwi) and Yei. Slightly more than 5,600 households were enumerated and mapped in this exercise in Yei Payam and the same was done for approximately 1,550 households in Nimule Payam. The focus of the survey was on documenting the prevalence of different forms of violence experienced by women and girls. Our findings confirm very high levels of physical, sexual, and emotional violence across our study sites. Our study demonstrates the context-sensitive nature of violence against women and girls, highlighting the need for tailored, highly localised interventions. Effective strategies should but rarely seek to reverse cultural norms to mitigate violence against women and girls.

ABSTRACT Ethnographic accounts of statistical production have emphasised the considerable work of translation carried out by technocratic elites that is integral to processes of social measurement. This theoretical approach does not account for how statistics are produced through large-scale surveys, requiring complex forms of socio-cultural management to integrate the labour of various actors. This includes the skilled labour of survey workers who must collect the required data from respondents. Through an ethnography of their professional routines, this paper analyses the tacit skills mobilised by these workers during quantitative data collection and their centrality to the production of statistics. Further, this labour is analysed in the context of a growing industry for customised surveys in India, wherein development actors engage private survey firms to manage such projects. The paper thus seeks to go beyond the prevailing paradigm of quantification as a technocratic intellectual process and unpack the social foundations of statistical knowledge.

ABSTRACT Indonesia has disbursed social assistance payments electronically and via debit cards since 2017. This study aims to identify factors affecting user acceptance of debit cards among the social assistance program (PKH) recipients in Indonesia. This study modified the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model by incorporating variables such as trust, financial literacy, religious beliefs, and perceived security. Data were collected through a field survey using multistage stratified random sampling and analysed using PLS-SEM. The study found that the two salient variables in the UTAUT model – performance expectancy and effort expectancy – were the best predictors of attitudes toward using debit cards; however, their effect sizes were small. Perceived security and religious beliefs also significantly affected trust in using debit cards. The research findings enrich our understanding of technology acceptance in the financial sector, offering practical insights for authorities to support the digitisation of social assistance programs.

ABSTRACT Women’s land ownership remains a contemporary discourse in scholarship, especially from Sub-Saharan African countries. Using the case of peri-urban areas of Dar es Salaam, this study explores the disconnect between land policy reforms and culture, underscoring their contrasting forces in redefining the reality concerning women’s land ownership. A mixed-methods case study design employing structured questionnaires, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis enabled data collection. There are still significant inequalities in land ownership attributable to social and cultural norms in peri-urban areas, even after several legislative and policy reforms in Tanzania were made to facilitate land ownership for men and women. Systemic reforms and restructuring to foster effective land policy reforms for equity in the ownership of land, especially in societies with deep-rooted norms and values, are recommended. Land-focused advocates and lobbyists are needed to influence policy reforms that are gender-neutral and which can steer societal transformation away from patriarchal mindsets.

ABSTRACT This study examines how social identity shapes future aspirations in a developing country context. Using data from a large-scale skill-training program for rural youth in India, we focus on two key identity dimensions: caste and gender. Our findings suggest that trainees from the socially disadvantaged groups – Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) – have significantly lower income aspirations and expectations than trainees from privileged castes. However, caste gaps disappear in expected post-training salaries. Female participants also have significantly lower aspirations and expectations than their male counterparts. These disparities persist even after accounting for background characteristics, including pre-training personality traits and non-cognitive skills. Exploring intersection of caste and gender, we find that disadvantages are cumulative: SC/ST women face the lowest aspiration and expectation levels across all groups. This pattern supports the “double jeopardy” hypothesis, highlighting how overlapping social identities compound disadvantage in shaping individuals’ economic outlooks and perceived future opportunities.

ABSTRACT This paper aimed to assess the differences in the adoption of coping strategies by Tunisian households during the COVID-19 pandemic. We calculated a coping strategy index that considered income-generating and expense-minimizing strategies used by households during the initial months. The effects of several variables, interpreted as determinants, on households’ ability to adapt to social distancing measures and the economic slowdown were studied using a zero-inflated beta regression model. Our findings indicate that households facing economic hardships were more likely to use coping strategies. Social support and household size had minimal effects. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of these findings but revealed a nuanced relationship between job loss, social support, and coping strategies. Food market issues consistently drove coping, especially among lower-income households, while job loss effects varied by context. This study offers insights into household resilience during crises, highlighting the role of informal support networks and social support policies.

ABSTRACT Recent crises have affected the health and well-being of rural communities in many low-and-middle income countries (LMICs) focusing attention on building resilience to better withstand and recover from shocks. Drawing on an institutional perspective, this paper analyses how the role, function and participation of frontline health workers in rural India in the years prior to COVID-19 have shaped the conduct of village health governance structures during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. Our study combines observational data from village health committees in Karnataka with rich narrative accounts from health workers. We showcase the historical influences that have shaped the functioning of village health committees to sustain both routine health priorities and COVID-19 activities before, during and in the aftermath of the pandemic. Our study holds broader implications for how the actions of frontline health workers may lead to building community healthcare resilience.