March 2025

In a fireside chat with Edmund Malesky, Sean Turnell reflected on his time as an economic consultant to Myanmar’s democratic government, the 2021 military coup, his incarceration by the junta, the country’s shattered economy, and the resilience of the Burmese people.

At the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences Annual Meeting, Edmund Malesky shared preliminary findings from a Metaketa study involving five coordinated field experiments to assess if women’s group empowerment can increase political participation.

Duke alumna Emiliana Vegas discussed her new book, “Let’s Change the World: How to Work within International Development Organizations to Make a Difference,” during a fireside chat with Edmund Malesky. She shared insights from her more than two decades working in international development organizations.

Imagining the Future of Development

Edmund Malesky, director of the Duke Center for International Development, and Brook Horowitz, CEO of IBLF Global, offer thoughts on what development aid should look like post-USAID, including steps that donors, recipients, and aid practitioners can take right now to maximize the impact of development assistance while using resources efficiently.

Trump’s foreign aid freeze is unlawful, destructive, and a poor substitute for meaningful reform

Sarah Bermeo, associate professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, writes that while U.S. aid programs need reform, Trump’s actions to freeze and dismantle aid go against the explicit wishes of Congress and most Americans.

Poverty is not Permanent

In this Aeon essay "Poverty is not Permanent," Anirudh Krishna and Dirk Philipsen challenge the conventional view of poverty as a static condition, arguing instead that it is a fluid state shaped by structural forces and individual circumstances. 

The Costs of Circumventing Tariffs

In the Harvard Business Review article, Edmund Malesky and co-authors discuss findings from their recent work analyzing trade rerouting through Vietnam following the 2018 U.S.-China trade war.

Sustaining Exposure to Fact-Checks: Misinformation Discernment, Media Consumption, and Its Political Implications

Co-authored by Shelley Liu and published in the American Political Science Review, the study examines the impact of sustained exposure to fact-checks on misinformation discernment and its political implications.

Exports in Disguise: Trade Rerouting during the US-China Trade War?

Edmund Malesky and co-authors discuss the extent of trade rerouting through Vietnam during the 2018-19 U.S.-China trade war in this VoxChina article.

A bridge to clean cooking? The cost-effectiveness of energy-efficient biomass stoves in rural Senegal

The article, co-authored by Marc Jeuland and published in Energy Economics, evaluates if energy-efficient biomass cookstoves could be a viable option for providing access to clean cooking in rural areas of sub-Saharan Africa.

Do Public Works Programs Have Sustained Impacts? A Review of Experimental Studies from LMICs

Eric Mvukiyehe and co-authors explore the impact of public works programs in low- and middle-income countries in this World Bank Research Observer article.

WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT TALK
Tuesday, April 1, 5:30 p.m. EDT | Register for the Zoom link.

The Women in Development series highlights the experiences, challenges and achievements of women leading change in the development sector. 

Join the upcoming Development Economics-themed conversation with panelists:
•Parvina Rakhimova, Tax Policy Advisor at the International Monetary Fund, Duke MIDP alumna
•Shoghik Hovhannisyan, Senior Economist at the IFC World Bank Group, Duke MIDP alumna
•Corinne Krupp, Professor of the Practice, Director of Graduate Studies for MIDP

2025 DUKE-UNC ROTARY PEACE CENTER CONFERENCE
Saturday, April 5, 9:30 a.m.-3 p.m. EDT | Watch the livestream on YouTube.

This year's theme is Stories of Peace: Centering Community for Collective Transformation. Class 22 Rotary Peace Fellows will present their research, exploring new ways of thinking about peacebuilding, international development and conflict transformation in many regions of the world.

Our executive education offerings are designed to empower professionals like you with cutting edge knowledge, strategic insights, and practical tools to navigate complex development challenges and lead transformative change. Whether you prefer learning from the comfort of your home or joining us in person, we’ve got a program tailored for you. Browse the programs below and find the opportunity that will sharpen your expertise, expand your network, and elevate your impact.

ONLINE PROGRAMS

• Behavioral Economics and Behavioral Science (BE), May 19-June 13 | Apply Now
• Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning for Development (MELD), July 7-August 1 | Apply Now

IN-PERSON PROGRAMS

• Project Appraisal and Revenue Forecasting (PARM), May 26-June 20 | Apply Now
• Tax Policy for Practitioners (TPP), June 30-July 25 | Apply Now
• Fiscal Decentralization and Local Government Financial Management (PFD), August 4-22 | Apply Now

Have a question? Please reach out to the Executive Education team at dcidexed@duke.edu.