Research

Democratic Representation and Public Education Provision: Evidence from Introduction of Electronic Voting Machines in India

Mir Muhtadi Faiaz (Completed draft Dec 2023)

Draft available on request.

What are the consequences of increased democratic representation of marginalized people due to the introduction of electronic voting machines (EVMs)? This paper explores the downstream effects of higher democratic representation enabled by the introduction of EVMs on the provision of public education in India. Previous research has extensively examined the immediate impacts of EVMs, such as enhanced political competition, reduced voter fraud, and improved representation. Building upon this foundation, this study delves into the long-term implications for public goods, particularly focusing on the establishment and accessibility of public education facilities. By employing a staggered difference-in-differences approach given the staggered adoption of EVMs in state elections in India, this research leverages state-level school establishment panel data and the India Human Development Survey (IHDS-2) to provide evidence of the introduction of EVMs leading to an increased provision of public education. The analysis suggests that EVMs' role in reducing electoral fraud and elevating participation among disenfranchised populations may lead to greater governmental investment in education. While the findings are indicative, further robustness checks and consideration of alternative factors are necessary to solidify the causal linkage.

Breathe In, Count Out: The Hidden Toll of Air Pollution on Math Learning

Mir Muhtadi Faiaz (Completed draft Mar 2024)

Draft available on request.

How does air pollution affect learning outcomes in developing countries? Despite growing awareness of air pollution's health impacts, knowledge is limited regarding its effects on cognitive and educational outcomes, in rapidly growing developing country contexts. This study contributes to this strand of the literature by employing a two-way fixed effects (TWFE) approach, combined with household and individual level data from the India Human Development Survey (IHDS) and satellite-based estimates of PM2.5 levels. Our findings reveal a significant negative association between PM2.5 exposure and math aptitude, with a 10 μg m^3 increase in PM2.5 concentration linked to approximately a 14% decrease in math scores. This relationship holds even after controlling for various socio-economic factors, underscoring the profound impact of air quality on learning outcomes. However, given the assumptions inherent in the TWFE model, caution is warranted in interpreting these results as definitive evidence. The implications of this research are twofold. Firstly, it provides new empirical evidence highlighting the detrimental effect of PM2.5 pollution on the cognitive abilities of children aged 8–11, thereby contributing to the growing literature on environmental determinants of educational outcomes. Secondly, it underscores the urgency for policymakers to consider the hidden educational costs of air pollution amidst efforts to combat the learning crisis in developing countries like India. 

Afrobarometer Dispatch: Malawians demand greater government efforts for gender equality

Kelechi Amakoh, Mir Muhtadi Faiaz, Namratha Rao and Anita Raj (25 Apr 2023)

Available here.

This dispatch reports on a special survey module included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2022) questionnaire to explore Africans’ experiences and perceptions of gender equality in control over assets, hiring, land ownership, and political leadership. The findings reveal that most Malawians endorse equal rights for women in employment, land ownership, and political leadership. However, they also show that women face significant obstacles in accessing education, owning assets, and running for office. Citizens give the government good marks for its efforts to promote women’s rights and opportunities, but a majority think that more action is needed.

Afrobarometer Dispatch: Batswana see gender-based violence as a priority for government and societal action

Keneilwe Sadie Mooketsane, Wilford Molefe, Mir Muhtadi Faiaz, Namratha Rao and Anita Raj (23 Jan 2023)

Available here.

This dispatch reports on a special survey module included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2022) questionnaire to explore Africans’ experiences and perceptions of gender- based violence (GBV). Findings show that Batswana view GBV as the most important women’s-rights issue that the government and society must address, overwhelmingly reject the use of physical force to discipline women, consider domestic violence a criminal matter rather than a family affair, are confident that the police treat reported GBV cases seriously. However, many report that violence against women and girls is a common occurrence and that women who report GBV crimes are likely to be criticized, harassed, or shamed by others in the community.

Afrobarometer Dispatch: Majority of Ugandans see domestic violence as a private – not criminal – matter

Stevenson Ssevume Male, Mir Muhtadi Faiaz, Namratha Rao and Anita Raj (22 Jan 2023)

Available here.

This dispatch reports on a special survey module included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2022) questionnaire to explore Africans’ experiences and perceptions of gender- based violence (GBV). Survey findings show that GBV ranks at the top of Ugandans’ priorities among women’s-rights issues that need government and societal attention. Most citizens reject a husband’s use of physical force to discipline his wife, but half report that violence against women and girls is a common occurrence in their community. And while they are confident that the police take GBV cases seriously, a majority think that women reporting violence will be criticized and that domestic violence is a private matter to be handled within the family.

Afrobarometer Dispatch: Batswana support gender equity, want greater government action to promote equal rights

Keneilwe Sadie Mooketsane, Wilford Molefe, Mir Muhtadi Faiaz and Anita Raj (12 Jan 2023)

Available here.

This dispatch reports on a special survey module included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2022) questionnaire to explore citizens’ attitudes, experiences, and perceptions with regard to gender equality in educational attainment, control over assets, hiring, land ownership, and political leadership. Findings show that majorities of Batswana express support for women’s right to equality in hiring, land ownership, and political leadership. But almost half consider it likely that women will suffer criticism, harassment, or family problems if they run for political office. Overall, fewer than half of Batswana approve of the government’s performance in promoting equal rights and opportunities for women, and an overwhelming majority say the government should do more.

Afrobarometer Dispatch: Ugandans applaud government efforts to promote gender equality, but want more

Stevenson Ssevume Male, Mir Muhtadi Faiaz, Namratha Rao and Anita Raj (10 Jan 2023)

Available here.

This dispatch reports on a special survey module included in the Afrobarometer Round 9 (2021/2022) questionnaire to explore Africans’ experiences and perceptions of gender- gender equality in control over assets, hiring, land ownership, and political leadership. Findings in Uganda show that women continue to trail men in educational attainment, asset ownership, and financial autonomy. By large majorities, citizens endorse gender equality in land ownership and political leadership, but support for equality in hiring is considerably weaker. Most Ugandans say the government is doing a good job of promoting equal rights and opportunities for women, but a majority say greater efforts are needed.

The Tragedy of Floodplains: A Theoretical Model to Explain Why Floodplains are Underutilized.

Mir Muhtadi Faiaz (Dec 2019)

Presented at the International Conference on Sustainable Development at Harvard University (Dec 2019)

Published on the Iona Journal of Economics (University of British Columbia): Volume V 2020

Common pool resources (CPRs), widely referred to as common resources or commons, are resources which are hard to exclude from free-riders and where one person’s consumption of the resource reduces the availability of it to others. Ecologist Garrett Hardin argued that due to the nature of CPRs, these resources will be overused and hence lead to a ‘tragedy’. However, not all CPRs are over-exploited. Some CPRs, such as floodplains, suffer from the problem of underutilization. Floodplains are becoming increasingly important due to the formation of a rising number of seasonal floodplains resulting from climate change, especially in low lying countries such as Bangladesh. I construct a theoretical model using Ostrom’s Social-Ecological System (SES) variables to explain the higher likelihood of underutilization of the floodplains. I argue that most floodplains remain underutilized and ungoverned due to high transaction costs for coordination, limited information and community capacity gaps. I also elaborate on how the unique community enterprise model can help communities sustainably utilize floodplains.

Iconic Images and Shifts in Public Attitudes Towards Violence and War: A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of Aesthetic Encounters

Mir Muhtadi Faiaz, Chrisanne Kouzas, Yahe Li and Jenny H. Peterson (Mar 2019)

Presented at the International Studies Association (ISA) Conference 2019

Full Draft of Paper available on request.

While many factors shape public attitudes and debates regarding politics, there has been an increased focus on the role of aesthetics in these processes. Such research explores how aesthetic encounters can alter understandings and opinions through a combination of rational and emotive moves.  When these moves are successful they are considered a form of counter-power, insofar as they facilitate challenges to dominant political policies or discourses. To demonstrate the impacts of aesthetic encounters,  this paper analyzes and compares four iconic images that substantially influenced public opinion at the time of their taking: Nicke Ut’s The Terror of War (Vietnam, 1972),  Sam Nzima’s Hector Pieterson (South Africa 1976) and Ivan Frederick’s The Hooded Man (Abu Ghraib, Iraq 2003)  HS Wong’s  Bloody Saturday  (China 1937). In doing so, the paper illustrates how aesthetic encounters act as a form of counter-power in terms of the ways that  they can fuel a challenging of both specific policies of state violence and, more generally, dominant beliefs in the ‘justness’ of violence. Furthermore, through this analysis, the authors identify more specific mechanisms which fortify or augment the impact of aesthetic encounters- shedding light on the question of why these particular images may have been so impactful on altering deep seated moral positions regarding the use of violence. The augmenting mechanisms, which include debates regarding authenticity, the source of the image, depictions of ‘innocence’ and the challenging/relatedness of social codes are also essential in understanding how (or if) iconic images have the potential to challenge discourses and policies of violence whilst helping public(s) imagine non-violent alternatives.

Political Economy of Inflation: What explains the divergence between Brazil and Mexico since 2000

Mir Muhtadi Faiaz (Dec 2018)

Published on the Journal of International Affairs (University of British Columbia) 2019

Controlling inflation is a key objective of any government’s monetary policy. Historically, Latin American countries have seen high inflation rates compared to the rest of the world. The global trend in the 1990s of making central banks more independent and implementing  structural reforms enabled some Latin American countries to bring inflation under steady control while others continued to experience volatile inflation. However, there is  divergence in countries’ ability to control inflation effectively in Latin America. To investigate the causes of such divergence, I do a comparative case study of Brazil and Mexico. During the 2000-2016 period, Mexico succeeded in keeping inflation rate low and steady. On the other hand, Brazil’s inflation rate remained comparatively higher and more volatile, a puzzling divergence. I argue that a country with an independent central bank and a government with neoliberal policy-making approach, is more successful in controlling inflation effectively. Specifically, Mexico was able to  control its inflation rate more effectively because its central bank is independent, and the Mexican political constituency favored orthodox neoliberal policies which prioritized low inflation. On the contrary, Brazil's inflation rate was higher and more volatile because its central bank is not legally independent, and Brazil's political constituency favored macroeconomic populist policies which prioritized social spending over inflation control. Hence, central bank independence and the economic priorities of the political constituency can explain the divergence in inflation levels.