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Exploring the Role of Language in the Uptake of Agricultural Inputs Among Smallholder Farmers: Insights from a Pilot Study in Chalimbana University, Zambia
No full textThis pilot study examines the role of language in the adoption and correct use of agricultural inputs among smallholder farmers in Zambia. Conducted with 15 farmers from linguistically diverse communities, the research explores how language preferences, comprehension levels, and communication channels shape decision-making around agricultural technologies. Despite high levels of formal education among participants, many expressed a strong preference for receiving agricultural information in local languages such as Bemba, Nyanja, Soli, Tonga, Lozi, and Lamba. Language barriers particularly those involving English-only labels and technical jargon were found to contribute to misinterpretation of instructions, misuse of inputs, and crop losses. The study also revealed limited engagement with extension officers and a growing reliance on agro-dealers and online platforms, raising concerns about the accessibility and accuracy of information. Findings emphasize the need for multilingual labelling, visual aids, and culturally resounding communication methods in agricultural extension and input dissemination. By highlighting the critical link between language, comprehension, and input adoption, the study calls for policy and programmatic attention to linguistic inclusion as a core element of agricultural development. The results provide a foundation for larger-scale research and offer practical recommendations to improve communication strategies in Zambia’s multilingual farming communities
A Gender Gap in Attitudes Towards Monetary Policy? The Case of Satisfaction with the Bank of England
No full textThis paper investigates the existence and extent of a gender gap in satisfaction with the Bank of England’s performance in controlling inflation. Descriptive data and previous research report gender gaps in attitudes towards monetary institutions and outcomes. Much of this research, however, disregards potential biases arising from women’s lower propensity to express an opinion, and to answer “don’t know” instead. Using the Bank of England’s Inflation Attitudes survey (2001-2025), and modelling selection into substantive answers, I find a statistically significant –yet, substantively small and not persistent– gender gap in satisfaction with the Bank of England. This gender gap remains after controlling for inflation perception and monetary knowledge. I also find that women do not overestimate inflation, and they do not seem to “punish” more harshly the Bank for high inflation or deflation. Therefore, variance in this gender gap can be attributed to a different propensity to report more “extreme” opinions, and to different reactions to high inflation or deflation. These findings highlight gendered dimensions for the understanding of monetary institutions and finance, contributing to the literature on satisfaction with the performance of institutions
Winning at Cricket: How Game Theory Influences Team Tactics and Player Mindsets?
No full textGame theory offers a structured framework for
analyzing strategic decision making. This paper is trying
to examine strategic decision-making in cricket, where
both the teams aim to maximize their outcomes in a
competitive environment. By examining payoffs,
probabilities, and opponent strategies, we investigate the
interplay between possible risk and reward, bolstering to
more informed and effective tactics in the match
Minimum viable relationships (MVR): a relational readiness framework for African ventures
No full textStartups that import MVP-first logics into high-context African markets frequently stall not because products lack utility, but because ventures lack permission to operate. This paper proposes Minimum Viable Relationships (MVR) as a relational-readiness gate that precedes MVP in such contexts. MVR formalizes the conditions under which counterparties (customers, distributors, institutions) grant access without triggering social or organizational sanction. I define the construct, situate it against adjacent ideas (design thinking, diffusion of innovations), and argue that in markets where social sanction outweighs functional risk, relationship viability must be validated before product experiments can be considered valid.
The paper contributes three artifacts: (1) a seven-dimension MVR diagnostic with go/no-go thresholds that scores embeddedness, trust, guardian vouches, and channel permission; (2) an MVR Investment Memo template that enables funders to assess relational risk alongside financial and operational risk; and (3) a practical “design lab” of field tools for earning permission (pilot site commitments, data-sharing agreements, compliance pathways, and referral loops). Comparative case vignettes (e.g., SafeBoda, KOKO Networks, Wave vs. Dash, Sendy) illustrate how early permission artifacts correlate with durable traction.
The framework reframes early venture due diligence in Africa from “Can the product work?” to “Are we allowed to make it work here?” and offers testable propositions for founders, investors, and ecosystem builders. Limitations and avenues for empirical study are discussed
Beyond the Benchmark: Magic Formula Outperformance in Indian Equity Markets
No full textMost existing studies on the Magic Formula strategy have been conducted in the context
of developed markets, while research in the Indian setting has remained limited and largely
exploratory. The present study implements and evaluates the Magic Formula in the Indian
equity market, focusing on NIFTY 100 constituents from 2007 to 2024. The Magic Formula,
introduced by Joel Greenblatt, ranks firms based on earnings yield and return on capital to
identify undervalued yet profitable companies. Using annual financial data and adjusted stock
prices, we construct portfolios following the standard Magic Formula rules and compare their
performance with the NIFTY 50 benchmark. Our findings reveal that even the unmodified
version of the Magic Formula outperforms the benchmark substantially, generating approximately
1.7 times higher returns over the study period. These results are particularly notable given that
the test universe consists of large, liquid, and relatively low-risk firms. The evidence suggests
that extending the strategy to broader indices such as the NIFTY 250 or NIFTY 500 could
yield even stronger results, underscoring the potential of systematic value-based approaches in
Indian equity markets
Emprendimiento en redes sociales
No full textEn la actualidad, las redes sociales han adquirido una gran
relevancia en el ámbito
empresarial, permitiendo a las pequeñas y medianas empresas (pymes) conectar con su
audiencia, promocionar sus productos y fortalecer su presencia en el mercado. A raíz de
la crisis del COVID-19, el emprendimiento digital ha experimentado un crecimiento
significativo, consolidándose como una vía clave para la generación de negocio.
El objetivo de este estudio es analizar el impacto del uso de redes sociales en el
emprendimiento, utilizando datos de la encuesta Future of Business Survey de Facebook,
que recoge información sobre cómo las pymes utilizan plataformas como Facebook,
Instagram y WhatsApp para desarrollar sus actividades. A través de un análisis
econométrico de datos agregados por país, se estudiarán las variables clave que
determinan el éxito de los negocios en redes sociales
Choc exogène et stabilité macroéconomique
No full textThis article analyzes the impact of exogenous shocks on the macroeconomic stability of the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), highlighting the country's high vulnerability due to its
overreliance on mineral exports and limited economic diversification. Using a multi-sectoral
econometric approach, the study reveals that external shocks such as global crises, pandemics,
and commodity price fluctuations result in prolonged economic adjustments up to eight years.
Key sectors like monetary aggregates and banking profitability are highly sensitive to
international conditions, whereas public debt, largely concessional, shows limited
responsiveness. The paper calls for ambitious structural reforms, including economic
diversification, counter-cyclical policies, improved management of mining revenues,
investment in human capital, and stronger governance to address institutional weaknesses and
enhance the DRC’s economic resilienc
The Effects of Carbon taxation and Climate Financing on the Malagasy Economy: An Application using a DSGE Model
No full textThe massive release emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, which has emerged as a pressing
global concern, entails detrimental consequences for both the environment and the economic system. As a
consequence, the severity of the consequences of climate change has disrupted economic issues and strategies.
Major reorientations of economic policies, particularly climate policies, mainly based on CO2 emission
levels have been adopted during various Conferences of the Parties (COP).This issue has therefore led us
to investigate the effects of such climate policies on the economy as a whole. To achieve our objective,
a climate DSGE model reflecting the characteristics of Madagascar has been implemented. The results
of impulse response function reveal that dynamic carbon taxation proves more effective in reducing CO2
emissions compared to a quota policy, which is a source of volatility. Climate finance, on the other hand, is
insufficient to stimulate the economy if not combined with carbon pricing
Why and How Overlapping Land Rights Undermine Agricultural Investment: Evidence from Customary Tenure in Ghana
No full textUnder Ghana's customary land tenure system, family land allocated through matrilineal ties is associated with a lower propensity to take up rubber cultivation and lower yields where rubber is planted. Consistent with conventional wisdom, tenure insecurity reduces yields, but most of this effect operates through diminished labor input by family members rather than through reduced material input or lack of collateral value of land. Moreover, tenure insecurity arises primarily from undefined rights among household members, rather than from the more distant possibility of lineage-level reallocations. Company-led interventions to reconcile land rights within kin groups effectively mitigated these gaps by reducing family members' disincentives to work on shared land
Romer Meets Weber-Schumpeter: The Spirit of Capitalism, Entrepreneurial Drive and Long-Run Growth
No full textIn this article, we develop a growth theory by integrating the Weber-Schumpeterian spirit of capitalism into Romer's (1990) model of endogenous technological change. The spirit of capitalism influences innovation and long-run growth through capital accumulation and the reallocation of human capital, mediated by a price mechanism. It also helps prevent economic stagnation arising from a limited stock of human capital. Explicit solutions illustrate the qualitative effects of the spirit of capitalism on growth. Using calibrated parameters based on U.S. data, we find this effect is quantitatively significant, accounting for more than half of U.S. long-run growth