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Delivery worker wearing a medical mask and carrying packages.
Feature: The Impact of State Paid Sick Leave Laws on Service Workers

Daniel Schneider finds that state paid sick leave laws increased service workers’ access to paid sick leave and reduced the share of service workers who worked while sick.

A family with a father, mother, and two small children walking on a dirt path.
Feature: Connecting Absolute and Relative Intergenerational Mobility

Deirdre Bloome offers two frameworks for understanding the relationship between types of intergenerational mobility, or whether people are socioeconomically better off than their parents.

Two women in rural India dressed colorfully and carrying baskets on their heads.
Feature: Studying a Government Program to Support Women’s Self-Help Groups

Michael Walton explores the interactions between state and society in rural India within a major community-based development program, finding two major tensions.

A network of computer motherboards and other parts assembled to look like a miniature city.
Feature: The Data-Informed City

Jorrit de Jong presents a comprehensive framework for how cities can use data to address problems more effectively, efficiently, equitably, and with better accountability.

Harvard Kennedy School faculty disseminate their research in working publications and papers that contribute to public knowledge and fuel policy innovation. This list features recent faculty publications, including journal articles, books, edited volumes, research papers, and public testimony.

Faculty Publications

Ten Consequential and Actionable ‘Social’ Contributions to the Theory, Practice, and Evaluation of Development

Rao, Vijayendra, and Michael Woolcock. "Ten Consequential and Actionable ‘Social’ Contributions to the Theory, Practice, and Evaluation of Development." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, March 19, 2025.

A Learning Agenda for Community-Driven Development: Responding to Complex Contextual, Evaluation, and Inference Challenges

Barron, Patrick John, Patricia Maria Fernendes, Stephen Joseph Winkler, and Michael Woolcock. "A Learning Agenda for Community-Driven Development: Responding to Complex Contextual, Evaluation, and Inference Challenges." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper, 08/27/2024.

What Data-Rich Assessments of Socioeconomic Inequality and Mobility in Rich Countries Overlook in Poor Countries

Van Der Weide, Roy, and Michael Woolcock. "What Data-Rich Assessments of Socioeconomic Inequality and Mobility in Rich Countries Overlook in Poor Countries." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, 08/27/2024.

Social Sustainability and the Development Process: What Is It, Why Does It Matter, and How Can It Be Enhanced?

Barron, Patrick John, Louise J. Cord, Jose Antonio Cuesta Leiva,Sabina Anne Espinoza, Gregory Michael Larson, and Michael Woolcock. "Social Sustainability and the Development Process: What Is It, Why Does It Matter, and How Can It Be Enhanced?" World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, June 15, 2023.

Examining Business Reform Committees: Findings from a New Global Dataset

Georgieva, Dorina, Varun Eknath, and Michael Woolcock. "Examining Business Reform Committees: Findings from a New Global Dataset." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, June 2023.

Social Sustainability in Development: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century

Barron, Patrick, Louise Cord, José Cuesta, Sabina A. Espinoza, Greg Larson, and Michael Woolcock. "Social Sustainability in Development: Meeting the Challenges of the 21st Century." World Bank Group, March 15, 2023.

Measuring What Matters: Principles for a Balanced Data Suite That Prioritizes Problem-Solving and Learning

Bridges, Kate, and Michael Woolcock. "Measuring What Matters: Principles for a Balanced Data Suite That Prioritizes Problem-Solving and Learning." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper Series, May 2022.

Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report 2020: Reversals of Fortune

Woolcock, Michael and Samuel Freije-Rodriquez. "Poverty and Shared Prosperity Report 2020: Reversals of Fortune." World Bank, October 2020.

The Politics of Rule of Law Systems in Developmental States: 'Political Settlements' as a Basis for Promoting Effective Justice Institutions for Marginalized Groups

Woolcock, Michael and Deval Desai. "The Politics of Rule of Law Systems in Developmental States: 'Political Settlements' as a Basis for Promoting Effective Justice Institutions for Marginalized Groups." Effective States and Inclusion Development Research Center, July 2012.

Analyzing Social Capital in Context: A Guide to Using Qualitative Methods and Data.

Dudwick, Nora, Kathleen Keuhnast, Veronica Nyhan Jones, and Michael Woolcock. "Analyzing Social Capital in Context: A Guide to Using Qualitative Methods and Data." World Bank Institute Working Paper, 2006.

Breaking Legal Inequality Traps: New Approaches to Building Justice Systems for the Poor in Developing Countries.

Woolcock, Michael, and Caroline Sage. "Breaking Legal Inequality Traps: New Approaches to Building Justice Systems for the Poor in Developing Countries." Prepared for Social Development and Policy Conference, December 2005.

Social Capital and CDD Projects in East Asia: Reviewing the Evidence, Exploring the Implications.

Woolcock, Michael, and Robert Sage. "Social Capital and CDD Projects in East Asia: Reviewing the Evidence, Exploring the Implications." Prepared for Social Development and Policy Conference, December 2005.

Empowerment and Local Level Conflict Mediation in Indonesia: A Comparative Analysis of Concepts, Measures, and Project Efficacy.

Woolcock, Michael, and Christopher Gibson. "Empowerment and Local Level Conflict Mediation in Indonesia: A Comparative Analysis of Concepts, Measures, and Project Efficacy." World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 3713, September 2005.

The Fiction of Development: Literary Representation as a Source of Authoritative Knowledge.

Woolcock, Michael, David Lewis and Dennis Rodgers. "The Fiction of Development: Literary Representation as a Source of Authoritative Knowledge." Development Studies Institute, London School of Economics, Working Paper 05-61, August 2005.

Customary Law and Policy Reform: Engaging with the Plurality of Justice Systems.

Chirayath, Leila, Caroline Sage, and Michael Woolcock. "Customary Law and Policy Reform: Engaging with the Plurality of Justice Systems." Background Paper, World Development Report 2006: Equity and Development, July 2005.

Capacity Enhancement for Social Development: Building on Local Context and Process.

McNeil, Mary, and Michael Woolcock. "Capacity Enhancement for Social Development: Building on Local Context and Process." World Bank Institute Working Paper, Stock No. 37245, December 2004.

Understanding Local Level Conflict Pathways in Developing Countries: Theory, Evidence, and Implications from Indonesia.

Barron, Patrick, Claire Q. Smith, and Michael Woolcock. "Understanding Local Level Conflict Pathways in Developing Countries: Theory, Evidence, and Implications from Indonesia." World Bank Conflict Prevention and Reconstruction Unit, Working Paper 19, December 2004.

Measuring Social Capital: An Integrated Questionnaire.

Grootaert, Christiaan, Deepa Narayan, Veronica Nyhan Jones, and Michael Woolcock. "Measuring Social Capital: An Integrated Questionnaire." World Bank Working Paper Series No. 18, January 2004.