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How Institutions Shape Culture: Survey and Experimental Evidence from a Large-Scale Land Tenure Reform Implemented as a Randomized Control Trial

Objective

This project aims to isolate the causal effects of formal institutions (mainly, laws and regulations) on cultural variables that influence economic development, such as trust, cooperation, social value orientation, competitiveness, thriftiness, and work ethics, in order to better understand how to design institutions that facilitate market exchange. The applicant will conduct surveys and lab-in-the-field experiments to collect data on these cultural variables in several villages in Benin, West Africa, where a major reform consisting in the formalization of property rights over land was implemented in hundreds of rural villages between 2006 and 2011. The effects of this institutional reform on culture will be estimated by comparing data collected in villages affected by the reform with data from villages where no land rights formalization took place. Identification is based on the randomization process characterizing the selection of villages where the reform took place: the project studies the first – and so far unique – case of land tenure reform implemented as a large-scale randomized control-trial. Given the unique identification strategy that overcomes most of the limitations characterizing previous studies, the use of state-of-the-art methodologies, and an interdisciplinary approach investigating the problem through the prism of gender equality, results will determine important advances in the existing knowledge regarding the optimal design of institutions. These outcomes will directly benefit low- and medium-income countries that are implementing land tenure reforms by suggesting ways to improve the design of new institutions. Furthermore, important benefits deriving from this project will be shared also by western societies, since findings will improve the effectiveness of the resources invested in development aids, and since the results will advance existing knowledge regarding the process and consequences of institutional change.

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.

Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF

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Call for proposal

Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.

(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2017

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Coordinator

UNIVERSIDAD POMPEU FABRA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 158 121,60
Address
PLACA DE LA MERCE, 10-12
08002 Barcelona
Spain

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Region
Este Cataluña Barcelona
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 158 121,60
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