Dr David Lawson

Administrative Positions

Program Director, MA Public Policy and Management (PPM).

Co-Convenor, IDPM/SoSS Development Economics Seminar Series.

Professional Positions

2009-, World Health Organisation (WHO), Scientific Resource Group (SRG) on Equity Analysis and Research, Panel Expert.

2009-, Brooks World Poverty Institute (BWPI), University of Manchester, Faculty Associate.

2009-, Herbert Simon Institute (HSI), MBS, University of Manchester, Fellow.

2003-10, Chronic Poverty Research Centre (CPRC), Research Fellow.

2003-8, Global Poverty Research Group (GPRG), Centre for the Study of African Economies (CSAE) at Oxford University, and the Institute for Development Policy and Management (IDPM) at Manchester University, Research Fellow.

2007, United Nations University-World Institute for Development Economics Research ( UNU-WIDER), Helsinki, Finland, Visiting Research Fellow.

2005-7, Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS), BRAC, Bangladesh, Visiting Research Fellow.

My specialised research area focuses on the microeconometric analysis of poverty, poverty dynamics, particularly in relation to health and gender issues in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). More recently the pure quantitative focus of the work has been extended to utilise ‘Q-Squared’ (quantitative and qualitative) research methodologies to analyse issues of extreme poverty and in particular understanding the role of non public pensions in reducing poverty. Current research outputs/projects focus on the cross country analysis of gender empowerment and health issues in relation to poverty.

Selected Research Projects

Community Based System (CoBaSys)
(2010-2013), An ACP Science and Technology Programme grant on HIV and ART delivery to develop stable cooperative networks to promote quality health care system in the field of HIV treatment.

Financial Crisis, Development and the Changing Shape of the Global Economy
(2010), co-convenor of this Economics and Social Research Council (ESRC) 2ND Annual Development Economics Conference.

Asset and Consumption Smoothing of the Chronically Poor
(2009), A CPRC funded project to understand the Role of Assets in Poverty Traps.

Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Research to Understand Poverty Dynamics
(2004-5), A DfID Uganda funded project examining the how to combine quantitative panel data with qualitative life history findings to further our understanding of Chronic and Extreme Poverty.

Gender and Poverty
(2003&8), A DfID and World Bank funded microeconometric analysis of panel and cross section series of household data for Uganda and Ethiopia to further our understanding of gender and poverty at the household level.

A Microeconometric Analysis of Health and Chronic Poverty
(2003), ESRC Fellowship.

 

Country Experience

Bangladesh, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Mexico, Namibia, Nigeria, Swaziland, Uganda.

• Economic Analysis of The Public Sector
• Public Sector Reform and Management

 

Current PhD Students

Ibrahim Kasirye, “Agriculture and Gender in Developing Countries: The Case for Uganda”.

Gordon Abeke, “Determinants of Utilisation of Maternal Healthcare Services in Ghana”.

In this section:

• Books
• Book Chapters
• Recent Journal Articles
• Working Papers
• Selected Professional Reports

Books

(Forthcoming), “Health Inequality and Development”, (co-editor with I. Dutta and M. McGillivray). Palgrave.

2009, “What Works for The Poorest: Poverty Reduction Programmes for the Ultra Poor”, Lead editor (with D. Hulme, I. Matin and K. Moore), Practical Action, UK.

“After this book, development policy and practice should never be the same again.”,

“… one of the most important development books of the decade…..a treasury of ideas and experience…”,
Robert Chambers, IDS, University of Sussex.

“Everyone committed to the MDGs worldwide should know this book.”
Barbara-Harris White, University of Oxford .

“The knowledge presented here is invaluable in identifying the determinants of poverty reduction.”,
Ravi Kanbur, Cornell University (Foreword to What Works for the Poorest? (PDF))

 

Book Chapters

(Forthcoming), “Health, Inequality and Development - Achieving Better Health in Developing Countries‘, Book chapter in “Health Inequality and Development”, (Dutta I., M. McGillivray and D. Lawson).

(Forthcoming), ‘Health and Labour Market Participation in Uganda’ (with S. Bridges), Book chapter in “Health Inequality and Development”, (Dutta I., M. McGillivray and D. Lawson).

2009, “A ‘Q-Squared’ Approach to Enhancing our Understanding of The Chronically Poor”, Book chapter in “What Works for The Poorest: Poverty Reduction Programmes for the Ultra Poor”, (in Lawson et al. 2009).

2009. “What Works For the Poorest?”, (with D. Hulme), Book chapter in “What Works for The Poorest: Poverty Reduction Programmes for the Ultra Poor”, (in Lawson et al. 2009).

2009, “Making Poverty Reduction Work for the Poor”, (with D. Hulme), Book chapter in “What Works for The Poorest: Poverty Reduction Programmes for the Ultra Poor”, (in Lawson et al. 2009).

2007, 'Gender and Growth in Africa: Evidence and Issues’ (PDF), with M. Blackden, S. Canagarajah and S. Klasen. Book chapter in 'Advancing Development: Core Themes in Global Development', edited by George Mavrotas and Anthony Shorrocks, Palgrave, UK.

Recent Journal Articles

2009, ‘A Gender-based Investigation into the Determinants of Labour Market Outcomes: Evidence from Uganda’, (with S. Bridges) Journal of African Economies, Vol. 18(3): 461-495.

2009, ‘Insights into How The Chronically Poor Cope with HIV/AIDS: Evidence From Uganda’, Field Action Scientific Reports (FACTS) Vol. 3 (1).

2008, ‘Infrastructure and Time Poverty in Lesotho’, South African Journal of Economics’, Vol. 76(1): 77-88.

2008, ‘Combining Quantitative and Qualitative To Further Our Understanding of Poverty Dynamics: Some Methodological Considerations’, (with D. Hulme and J. Muwonge), International Journal of Multiple Research Methods Vol. 2, (2): 191-204.

2007, ‘Child Health in Uganda – Policy Determinants and Measurement’, European Journal of Development Research, Vol. 19.2, 210-33 with S. Appleton.

2006, ‘Poverty Persistence and Transitions in Uganda: A Combined Qualitative and Quantitative Approach’, Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 42(7): 1225- 1251 (with A. McKay and J. Okidi).

2003, ‘The Quantitative Assessment of Chronic Poverty: Issues and Some Evidence in Low Income Countries’. World Development, Vol. 31(3): 555-570, with A. McKay.

Working Papers

2007, "The Impact of Population Growth on Economic Growth and Poverty Reduction in Uganda ", (with S.Klasen), University of Goettingen, Department of Economics, Working Paper No. 133 (PDF).

2007, ‘The Impact of Demographic Dynamics on Economic Development, Poverty and Inequality in Mozambique and Uganda’, with Stephan Klasen and Silke Woltermann, IDPM Development Economics and Public Policy Working Paper No. 22., University of Manchester.

2006, 'Health, Health Care, Poverty and Well Being: An Overview for a Developing Country Focus' with David Hulme, IDPM Development Economics and Public Policy Working Paper No. 19., University of Manchester

2006, 'Applying 'Q Squared' Methods to Further Our Understanding of Poverty Dynamics in Uganda', with David Hulme, Global Poverty Research Group Newsletter Number 5 (PDF) 

2006, 'Example Life History Database, based on Ugandan 'Q2' Research', with David Hulme and James Muwonge.

2005, 'Determinants of Ill Health In Uganda - Is it Just the Wealthy That Are Healthy?'. CREDIT Research Paper 04/09, University of Nottingham.

2004, 'Demand for Health Care Services in Uganda: Implications For Poverty Reduction', with Ssewanyana Sarah, Nabyonga Orem Juliet, Kasirye Ibrahim. Economic Policy Research Series No. 40, EPRC Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

2004, 'Determinants of Health Seeking Behaviour in Uganda - Is it Just Income and User Fees That Are Important?', IDPM Development Economics and Public Policy Working Paper No. 6, University of Manchester

2002, 'Chronic Poverty in Developing and Transition Countries: Concepts and Evidence'. CREDIT Research Paper 02/27 )PDF), University of Nottingham.

2002, 'Chronic Poverty: A Review of Current Quantitative Evidence,' CPRC Working Paper No. 15, with A. McKay.

Selected Professional Reports

2009, “The Impact of Tax on Gender Equality: A Developing Country Focus”, Policy Report, Christian Aid, UK.

2008, Chronic Poverty Report 2008 (& 2004) (contributing author). Manchester: Chronic Poverty Research Centre.

2008, “Gender and Poverty Analysis of the Ethiopian Household Data (1999-2005)”, Government of Ethiopia/World Bank.

2008, “Malnutrition in Ethiopia: Current Programming, Successes, Cost-Benefit Analysis, and the Way Forward”, WFP/EOS/World Bank (contributing author).

2006, “Quantitative Analysis For ‘Moving Out Of Poverty’ – Uganda Data  Understanding Growth and Democracy For The Bottom-Up”, Ministry of Finance, Kampala, Uganda.

2006, “Quantitative and Qualitative Approach To Understand Poverty And Inequality Dynamics in Uganda - Collection of Life History Data Based On 1992/99 Household Panel”, for DFID Uganda, PRSP  Background paper.

2004,“The Unmet Need for Family Planning in Uganda – Analysis of DHS”, PRSP  Background paper. Republic of Uganda.

2003, “Poverty in Uganda – Basic Dynamic Trends”, Background Note for Poverty Status Report (PSR), Republic of Uganda, (with A. McKay and J. Okidi)

2003, “Gender Analysis of the Ugandan National Household Surveys (1992 – 2003)”, Background Report for PEAP, DFID Uganda.

Guest Lectures and Seminars

2009, “The Role of Pensions in Poverty Reduction”, Korean Institute of Public Administration (KIPA), Seoul, South Korea.

2009, “Through Combined Research Methods”, Korean Development Institute School, Seoul, South Korea.

2008, “How Gender and Extreme Poverty: Influence Labour Market Outcomes in Bangladesh”, MATT2, Bangladesh Civil Servants short course, University of Manchester.

2007, “Gender and Poverty: Empirical Methods and Evidence’, Plenary speaker at World Bank, Gender and Economics Workshop, Accra, Ghana.

2007, “Unsafe Abortion Related Morbidity and Mortality and Economic Impact”, Hewlett Foundation Workshop, Invited Technical Panel Expert, IDS, Sussex.

2006, “Genuine ‘Q2’ – Methodological Issues Associated with Combining Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches to Understanding Poverty Dynamics: Evidence from Uganda”, Invited Plenary presentation at What Works for the Poorest, BRAC International Conference, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

2006, “Using Life Histories for Poverty Analysis“, Life Histories Workshop, CPRC, Senegal

2006, “Poverty Data Analysis”, World Bank-IMF, Global Data Dissemination System (GDDS). Accra, Ghana, Course Facilitator.

2004, “Health, Poverty and Poverty Dynamics in Africa”,IV Mediterranean Seminar on International Development - Africa’s Crisis, Palma, Majorca.

Please contact  david.lawson@manchester.ac.uk for copies of the latest reports.