BIG Ideas In Development Economics

In this episode, BIG Lab PhD student Rishita Sankrit speaks with Saad Gulzar, Associate Professor of Political Science and Global Affairs at the University of Notre Dame. Saad discusses his research on how political campaign contributions influence public procurement in Colombia, showing how donations can shape government contracting and affect the efficiency of public spending. He also explains how increased oversight can reduce favoritism, reflects on the broader relationship between money and politics, and shares insights from his work on political representation and what encourages more public-spirited candidates to run for office.

In this episode, BIG Lab PhD student Xinyi Li speaks with Heitor Pellegrina, Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame. Heitor discusses his research on Brazil's EMBRAPA program, showing how large-scale public investment in agricultural research can drive substantial productivity gains by developing technologies tailored to local conditions. He explains why the program generated research spillovers beyond EMBRAPA itself, highlights the importance of scale and geographically dispersed research centers, and reflects on how his broader research connects agricultural productivity, trade, and environmental sustainability.

In this episode, BIG Lab PhD student Virna Vidal-Menezes speaks with Taryn Dinkelman, Professor of Economics at the University of Notre Dame, about her research on the long-term impacts of free primary education across sub-Saharan Africa. Taryn discusses why similar education policies can produce different labor market outcomes across countries, the importance of context in policy evaluation, and the creation of a new continent-wide database of education reforms. She also shares insights into her current research on the political economy of education policy and women's employment.