Research Fellows

Agricultural Productivity Growth and Deforestation in the Tropics

Access to EnergyRaphaël SoubeyranWorking papersComments Off on Agricultural Productivity Growth and Deforestation in the Tropics

We analyze the impact of agricultural productivity growth on tropical deforestation. Our dynamic model of forest-to-farmland, addressing the Jevons’ paradox and Borlaug hypothesis, predicts that rising agricultural productivity, reflected by declining fertilizer price growth, has an ambiguous effect on deforestation. Using tropical forest loss data (2000-2022) and fertilizer price variations, we find a negative correlation between fertilizer price growth and deforestation, particularly in regions with high market potential. Our results highlight that protected areas do not mitigate the adverse effects of fertilizer price growth on deforestation.

Power constraints and firm-level total factor productivity in developing countries

Alpha LyFinancial regulation and innovative financingPublicationsPublicationsResearch areaResearch FellowsComments Off on Power constraints and firm-level total factor productivity in developing countries

We analyze the effects of power constraints on manufacturing firms’ TFPR. Statistically, the power constraints treatment variable is not random for the firms. Power constraints negatively and significantly affect firm-level TFPR. Average productivity 11% lower for exposed firms compared to unexposed firms. The acquisition of backup generators or investment in R&D mitigates this effect.

Electrification or deforestation? Evidence from household practices in Côte d’Ivoire

Alpha LyFinancial regulation and innovative financingPublicationsPublicationsResearch areaResearch FellowsComments Off on Electrification or deforestation? Evidence from household practices in Côte d’Ivoire

This paper investigates the impact of electrification on household practices related to deforestation in Côte d’Ivoire, specifically focusing on the expansion of arable farms and the use of biomass fuels.  

Looking at the relationship between electrification and the expansion of arable farms inspired by Angelsen and studying  data from the latest four waves of the household Living Standards Measurement Surveys (1998, 2002, 2008, and 2015), we find that increased access to electricity significantly reduces both the average size of arable farms and the collection of firewood from forests. 

Economic policy efficiency and recovery in an open economy

How the increased trade openness and correspondingly higher marginal propensity to
import explains the lower efficiency of economic policy in the context of economic openness. Using an empirical stock-flow consistent model for the French economy (SFC FR), we analyze the macroeconomic impacts of these policies through a series of macroeconomic shocks.

Economic rationality, ecological rationality and the orientation issue

The economic agent was previously assumed to be distinct from its environment and that nothing was forcing him to act on it. With the ecological crisis, every agent appears to be inserted into an environment, which he modifies in an irreversible way without even having decided to do so. This changes in depth the way in which economics can represent the agent and the optimal action: it is rationality itself that is modified in what we call "ecological rationality".

Climate change and biodiversity loss: new territories for financial authorities

Financial regulation and innovative financingHugues ChenetPublicationsPublicationsResearch FellowsComments Off on Climate change and biodiversity loss: new territories for financial authorities

We analyse the current and possible ways forward in this consideration of climate and biodiversity by finance, highlighting the extent to which they may either contribute to and/or suffer from those environmental changes.

Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the cattle sector: land-use regulation as an alternative to emissions pricing

Guy MeunierMaxence GérardPublicationsResearch areaResearch FellowsSectoral PoliciesWorking papersComments Off on Mitigating greenhouse gas emissions from the cattle sector: land-use regulation as an alternative to emissions pricing

We examine the efficiency of a subsidy to cattle farmers for setting aside land for natural ecosystem regeneration. We develop a partial equilibrium model of the cattle sector that integrates land use, greenhouse gas emissions, and animal feeding. We identify conditions under which the subsidy is the best alternative to these other second-best policies.

Macroeconomic policy evaluation in an SFC econometric model: the case of the investment program for climate action in France

Jacques MazierMacro-economical and societal challengesPublicationsResearch areaResearch FellowsWorking papersComments Off on Macroeconomic policy evaluation in an SFC econometric model: the case of the investment program for climate action in France

We study the macroeconomic impact of climate action policy that would allow France to reach its net zero objective by 2050. Contrary to the findings of a report commissioned by the French Prime Minister, our simulations show that these investments are likely to generate economic growth and reduce public debt.

Leaving the hearth you know: Internal migration and energy poverty

We document the relationship between rural–urban migration and energy poverty in South Africa. Our findings show that migrants to urban areas experience significant reductions in energy poverty, particularly in the use of traditional cooking fuels. Our study also explores energy poverty outcomes for both sending and receiving households, gender differences among migrants, and other amenities.

Challenges in measuring the distribution of carbon footprints: The role of product and price heterogeneity

Antonin PottierEmmanuel CombetMacro-economical and societal challengesPublicationsPublicationsResearch areaResearch FellowsComments Off on Challenges in measuring the distribution of carbon footprints: The role of product and price heterogeneity

The distribution of the footprint within a country is regularly computed using consumption data, and with the assumption that the footprint from a product category is proportional to the spending on that product. Here, we explore the limitations of this proportionality assumption.