Political Connections and Social Networks in Targeted Transfer Programmes: Evidence from Rural Ethiopia

In many developing countries, the beneficiaries of transfer programmes are determined by community-based processes, based on some general targeting rules related to needs. This opens the door for local social and political processes to impact on who gets access. Despite increasingly large scale social protection programmes in Africa, we have limited evidence on the political economy processes involved. We focus on Ethiopia were the local political authorities are in charge of food aid transfers. We investigate whether social networks and political connections matter for access. We find evidence for the hypothesis that the process results in the targeting of households that cannot easily rely on support from relatives or friends. On average, for each additional person the household can rely on in times of need, the probability of this household of obtaining food aid decreases with almost 1 percentage point. We also find strong evidence of political connections and favouritism. Households having close associates holding official positions have, ceteris paribus, more than 10 percent higher probability of obtaining free food than households that are not well connected with powerful households. We do not find evidence for the hypothesis that other social networks in the community influence the food aid allocation process. Finally, investigating reverse causality, we find no evidence that social and political networks are affected by the food aid transfer system.Food aid, transfers, political economy, Africa

Childcare quality improvement and assurance practices

This study set out to examine how quality assurance and quality improvement schemes are being used by Early Years Development and Childcare Partnerships and childcare providers in England to improve the quality of services beyond minimum standards. Three types of early years providers took part: day nurseries, out-of-school clubs and childminding networks

Pharmacoepidemiology of depression and anxiety

Hoogendijk, W.J.G. [Promotor]Penninx, B.W.J.H. [Promotor]Hugtenburg, J.G. [Copromotor

Microwave-assisted liquefaction of lignin to high value chemicals

In the last few years a major effort has been made to improve the recovery of useful chemical products from biomass. The aim of this work regards the use of lignin for the recovery of high value chemicals using pyrolysis and solvolys processes with both conventional and microwave-assisted way. The study was focused on the identification and quantification of the main components in the resulting bio-oil: guaiacol, creosol and 4-ethyl guaiacol. Conventional heating provides higher yields.openEmbargo temporaneo per motivi di segretezza e/o di proprietà  dei risultati e/o informazioni sensibil