Subject: EMPIRICAL: Key Facts for Leaders in Government from the Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program
From: "Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program" <[email-masked]>
To: David Sergeenko
Date: Wed, 20 Jun 2018 21:44:17 -0000

EMPIRICAL

Monthly Brief on Relevant Data for Leaders in Government

June 2018

Regional Analysis of Youth Demographics: Research findings on the Socioeconomic Implications of Youth Demographics in Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda

“This report summarises the findings of research on the socioeconomic implications of youth demographics in four East African Community (EAC) countries namely: Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. For the study, we used systematic mapping approaches to conduct a review of existing literature and data sources, and to develop a conceptual framework of the pathways through which youth demographics affect access to and demand for basic and critical services including schooling, housing, health care, and jobs. In addition, we employed modelling techniques including cohort component population projections and the DemDiv model (developed by the United States Agency for International Development funded Health Policy Project implemented by Futures Group) to show, under different scenarios, the short, medium, and long-term implications of youth population dynamics on the countries’ socioeconomic status up to 2050. Finally, we developed recommendations which bring together evidence from the literature, data review, and the scenario modelling to highlight the policy and implementation implications for each of the four countries and for the region, to benefit from the youth bulge.” READ MORE>>

The Cost of Gender Inequality. Unrealized Potential: The High Cost of Gender Inequality in Earnings

“Reducing gender inequality makes economic sense apart from being the right thing to do. Achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls is the fifth sustainable development goal and is a top priority for governments. Countries can achieve this goal if they take appropriate steps. This note is part of a series that aims to measure the economic cost of gender inequality globally and regionally by examining the impacts of gender inequality in a wide range of areas and the costs associated with those impacts. Given that gender inequality affects individuals throughout their life, economic costs are measured in terms of losses in human capital wealth, as opposed to annual losses in income or economic growth. The notes also aim to provide a synthesis of the available evidence on successful programs and policies that contribute to gender equality in multiple areas and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).” READ MORE>>

Sugar, Tobacco, and Alcohol Taxes to Achieve the SDGs

“More than a decade after the adoption of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, there is compelling evidence that raising tobacco prices substantially through taxation is the single most effective way to reduce tobacco use and save lives.1 Similarly, alcohol taxation is a cost-effective way to reduce alcohol consumption and harm.2 With growing evidence, sugar taxes are another fiscal tool to promote health and nutrition.3 Mexico’s sugar tax reduced sugarsweetened beverage sales by 5% in the first year, with an almost 10% further reduction in the second year.4 Tobacco taxes in South Africa contributed to tobacco consumption decreases of about 40% between 1993 and 2003.5 When Finland reduced taxes on alcohol in 2003, alcohol-related mortality increased by 16% among men and by 31% among women.6 As part of a broader public health approach to promote a life-course approach to prevention and to address commercial determinants of health, it is now time for governments to adopt sugar, tobacco, and alcohol taxes (STAX)."  READ MORE>>

The Toughest Places for a Girl to Get an Education

“Educating girls can change the world. But over 130 million girls didn’t go to school today…In 2017, nearly half a billion women worldwide still cannot read…Poverty is sexist – the gender gap is worst in the toughest countries.  Within the top 10 countries, girls are 57% more likely than boys to be out of school at the primary level, and this disparity only gets worse as they get older (83% at upper secondary level). Girls face social, cultural, and economic barriers to accessing and staying in school. In most of the top 10 countries, over half of girls are married before their 18th birthday…Poor countries aren’t destined to perform poorly. For example, Burundi has the world’s lowest GDP per capita at $286 USD, but it outperforms 18 other countries with higher GDPs. But more money is not all that’s needed to ensure girls get a quality education. Niger and Ethiopia report spending over 20% of their domestic budgets on education (exceeding the Global Partnership for Education’s recommended target) but still perform poorly according to other indicators and are among the top 10 toughest countries to be a girl in school."  READ MORE>>

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The Harvard Ministerial Leadership Program is a joint initiative of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and the Harvard Graduate School of Education in collaboration with Big Win Philanthropy, and with the support of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the GE Foundation, and Merck KGaA (Darmstadt, Germany).

https://ministerialleadership.harvard.edu/

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