Backstory: Backstory: Loren Brandt on Labor Force Participation and Structural Change
In this episode, Riccardo interviews Loren Brandt about the paper “Labor Force Participation and Structural Change,” coauthored with Chaoran Chen and Xiaoyun Wei. Loren reflects on his journey into research and academia, from his early work on China’s economy to the broader questions that have guided his career. He explains what it takes to build a coherent research agenda and why he found academia the best path for exploring the questions that interest him.
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33:00
Backstory: Nathan Nunn on Zero-Sum Environments, the Evolution of Beliefs, and Development
Join Riccardo as he talks to Nathan Nunn about his paper “Zero‑Sum Environments, the Evolution of Effort‑Suppressing Beliefs, and Economic Development.” They explore how Nathan’s idea‑generation process has evolved over the years, the value of reading beyond economics, and the challenges and rewards of bringing insights from other disciplines into economic research. Nathan also offers a behind‑the‑scenes perspective on what it’s like to break new ground in economics and how that shapes both the questions we ask and the way we measure them. Finally, he shares insights from his role as an editor at the Quarterly Journal of Economics, sharing tips about the publication process.Here is a link to the working paper, coauthored with Augustin Bergeron, Jean-Paul Carvalho, Joseph Henrich, & Jonathan L. Weigel: https://www.nber.org/papers/w31663
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23:10
Backstory: Raúl Sánchez de la Sierra on Unbundling Social Preferences At the Heart of a Major Armed Group in Congo
Riccardo talks to Raúl Sánchez de la Sierra about the backstory of his paper “Moral Violence: Unbundling Social Preferences at the Heart of a Major Armed Group in Congo” (with Louis Dunia and Hilary Yu). This episode uncovers a unique journey that takes us back ten years, when Raúl was forging the connections and friendships that gave him access to the inner circles of Congolese armed groups. What makes this episode special is that we not only see how Raúl’s research developed and how he approaches projects many would consider too risky, but we also get a glimpse of Raúl as a person and what he values in both academia and his work. Enjoy!Here is a link to the working paper: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ng1vm6vgg1twu5kwa9q92/4.-Moral-Violence.pdf?rlkey=0c25yxzi097u691g62bcc2ytl&e=1&dl=0
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37:34
Backstory: Natalie Bau on Long-Term Effects of School Quality in a Low-Income Country
In this episdode, Maddison interviews Natalie Bau, Professor of Economics at UCLA, about the backstory behind her paper, "The Long-Term Effects of School Quality in a Low-Income Country: Evidence From 15 Years of Data" with Jishnu Das and Catherine Michaud-Leclerc. Natalie discusses how she and her coauthors conduct a unique panel survey in Pakistan, so that they can carefully study long-run effects of primary schooling. Natalie also shares advice about working on joint projects with faculty, connecting with coauthors, balancing time and risk between projects, and developing a research agenda.
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36:02
Backstory: David McKenzie on Problem Selection and Public Goods Creation
In this episode, Aakash speaks with David McKenzie about how he identifies research problems across his various agendas. David also discusses the differences between working as a researcher at the World Bank versus in academia, and shares the private and external benefits of creating public goods. Tune in to learn more!
Über Backstory: How Research Papers in Economics Get Made
Tune into the Backstory Podcast with hosts Riccardo Di Cato, Aakash Bhalothia, Santiago Cantillo, and Maddison Erbabian for a deep dive into the behind-the-scenes process of economic research. Each episode unpacks the hidden journey from a paper's conception to its publication, sharing the challenges and triumphs scholars face along the way. Conceptualized by Paul Niehaus and brought to life by UCSD grad students, Backstory gives voice to the stories that academia often leaves untold.
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