Farmers in most of West Africa make little use of non-labor inputs or formally improved seed technology. Agricultural productivity remains low, and this is the primary determinant of rural poverty. What are the roles of market failures in finance, information, and goods in driving this low productivity, and what are the implications of these failures for policies that might alleviate rural poverty? This will be a discussion of the results of a seven-year investigation into the structure of financial markets.
Chris Udry is a Buffett Institute Faculty Fellow and the King Professor of Economics. His research interests focus on rural economic activity in Sub-Saharan Africa. His current research examines technological change, risk and financial markets, gender and households, property rights, psychological well-being and economic decision-making and a variety of other aspects of rural economic organization.
The Buffett Institute Faculty & Fellows Colloquium brings together an interdisciplinary audience to build awareness of global research on campus. This series promotes dialogue on scholarship and develops a deeper sense of community among Buffett Institute affiliates. Each meeting lasts one hour; lunch is provided. Due to space constraints, we will not admit attendees once the space reaches capacity.