Skin-Tone and Academic Achievement Among 5-year-old Mexican Children

Skin-tone based social stratification has been characterized as an enduring part of the U.S. racial landscape (Hunter, 2002). Despite the plethora of research that examines the racial disparities in education (e.g., Reardon & Portilla, 2015), and an emerging literature finding that lighter skin-tones are associated with higher educational attainment among adults (Hunter, 2002) few studies have examined whether similar processes emerge during early childhood. Thus, grounded in Garcia Coll and colleagues’ (1996) integrative model, we tested whether skin-tone predicted children’s academic achievement, and whether these relations were modified by children’s ethnic-racial identification (i.e., positive ethnic-racial attitudes and centrality). Consistent with expectations, darker skin-tones were associated with lower math scores. Positive attitudes did not significantly moderate the relation between skin-tone and academic achievement. However, contrary to our hypothesis, high levels of ethnic racial centrality strengthened the association between skin-tone and academic achievement. Conclusions: These findings contribute to the literature by providing evidence for the early development of within race skin-tone based disparities in academic achievement and underscoring the need for further exploration of ethnic racial identification as protective or risk factors in the positive development of minority children

Awareness of Breast Cancer and Its Early Detection Measures Among Female Students, Northern Ethiopia

Globally breast cancer is the most common of all cancers. Since risk reduction strategies cannot eliminate the majority of breast cancers, early detection remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control. This paper, therefore, attempts to assess the awareness of breast cancer and its early detection measures among female students in Mekelle University, Ethiopia. An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected female students. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select the participants. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used. Data analysis was carried out using SPSS version 16. In this study, 760 students participated making a response rate of 96 percent. Respondents with good knowledge score for risk factors, early detections measures and warning signs of breast cancer were 1.4 percent, 3.6 percent and 22.1 percent respectively. The majority 477 (62.8 percent) of participants practiced self-breast examination. In conclusion the participants had poor knowledge of risk factors, early detection measures and early warning signs of breast cancer.Therefore, the Ministry of health of Ethiopia together with its stalk holders should strengthen providing IEC targeting women to increase their awareness about breast cancer and its early detection measure

Equitable Access to Basic Services: Who will Guarantee it?

Current practice in utility provision involves the following. Governments retain ownership and pay for capital investments, while privatising the operations and management of the companies. Does this modality guarantee equitable access to water and electricity services? (...)Equitable Access to Basic Services: Who will Guarantee it?

Is the Washington Consensus Dead?

The recent G20 meeting in London elevated the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to a new level. Its lending capacity was tripled to US$750 billion. In the aftermath of World War II, the IMF was established to deal with declining commodity prices and deteriorating international trade. During the oil price shocks of the 1970s the IMF became lender of last resort, mainly to countries with balance of payments problems. The debt crisis of the early 1980s in Latin America gave the Fund further impetus. By the mid 1980s the IMF and the World Bank had become policy architects in low-income countries. The 1998 Asian financial crisis brought the IMF to the forefront of crisis management. In 2009, we are again at another milestone?the Fund is back with even greater influence. (...)Is the Washington Consensus Dead?

Are the Cheetahs Tracking the Tigers? Probing High Growth Rates in Africa

African economies are growing. Between 2000 and 2007, GDP growth for the whole region averaged 4.4 per cent. Five countries managed to grow by more than 7 per cent. This magical number is often used as a benchmark for achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). In another 14 countries, growth rates were at 5?6 per cent, even despite negative per capita growth for 12 of the 47 sub-Saharan countries. For instance, growth shrank by 5.6 per cent in Zimbabwe, by 2.2 in Cote d?Ivoire, by 3.3 per cent in Eritrea, and by 1.4 per cent in the Central African Republic.Are the Cheetahs Tracking the Tigers? Probing High Growth Rates in Africa

Should Khat Be Banned? The Development Impact

.Khat, Controversy, Answer, Global trade, Ethiopia

The Macroeconomics of Scaling-Up Aid: What We Know in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia

Last week at the United Nations, the MDG Africa Steering Group discussed the Gleneagles Scenario. The participants reiterated the need for scaled-up aid in order to support the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). At the same time, a report issued by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) assessed the macroeconomic implications of scaling-up aid in Benin, Niger and Togo. The report acknowledged that higher levels of aid will put moderate to sizable pressures on inflation and real exchange rates (IMF, 2008). (...)The Macroeconomics of Scaling-Up Aid: What We Know in Kenya, Malawi and Zambia

The Rich Expand, the Poor Contract. The Paradox of Macroeconomic Policy in Ethiopia

Rich countries have earmarked about $7 trillion to reverse the current global economic slump. The United States allotted$700 million to rescue ailing banks. About $180 billion was used to rescue just one insurer (AIG). A$787 billion stimulus package is also in place. The United Kingdom set aside $692 billion. The Chinese announced a$586 billion fiscal stimulus. Monetary policy has also become expansionary. The US and the UK cut interest rates to zero per cent and 0.5 per cent, respectively. Can low-income countries embark on such expansionary fiscal and monetary policies? Unfortunately not, as the case of Ethiopia demonstratesThe Rich Expand, the Poor Contract. The Paradox of Macroeconomic Policy in Ethiopia