Research Staff

Espen Villanger

Director

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Presentation/Lecture | Apr 2025

Norad: Seminar on Decent Work – Insights from Ethiopia

Espen Villanger,Lovise Aalen

Journal Article | Jan 2025

Effects of jobs on ethnic switching – Evidence from a field experiment in Ethiopia

Lovise Aalen, Monica Beeder, Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Villanger

Journal of Development Studies

CMI Brief | 2024

Improving working conditions for women in African industrial parks

Espen Villanger,Lovise Aalen

Presentation/Lecture | 2024

Norad: Women in private sector development and sustainable job creation

Espen Villanger,Magnus Hatlebakk,Viola Asri,Ankush Asri

CMI Report | 2024

How can women benefit from private sector development?

Viola Asri, Magnus Hatlebakk and Espen Villanger

19 Jun 2024

Jobs alone won’t lift people out of poverty: Lessons from Ethiopia’s industrial sector

Radio and TV appearance | 2024

Job creation in Tanzania

Espen Villanger

Presentation/Lecture | 2024

Dar es Salaam: International Policy Research Workshop

Espen Villanger,Magnus Hatlebakk,Vincent Somville,Viola Asri

Journal Article | 2024

Jobs and Political Participation: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Ethiopia

Aalen, Lovise and Kotsadam, Andreas and Pieters, Janneke and Villanger, Espen

The Journal of Politics

Presentation/Lecture | 2023

NHH-workshop: Jobs and poverty in Ethiopia

Espen Villanger

Presentation/Lecture | 2023

How should we address poverty and job creation?

Espen Villanger

Journal Article | 2023

Does wealth reduce support for redistribution? Evidence from an Ethiopian housing lottery

Espen Villanger, Asbjørn G. Andersen, Simon Franklin, Tigabu Getahun, Andreas Kotsadam, Vincent Somville

Journal of Public Economics

Newspaper Article | 2023

Researchers on why job creation remains a challenge in Tanzania

Espen Villanger

Projects

Current projects

Jun 2021 - May 2026

Completed projects

Jan 2020 - Dec 2023

Women in Transition: Female Employment and Political Empowerment during Ethiopia's Reform Process ]

Jan 2018 - May 2022

Assisting Regional Universities in Sudan (ARUS)

Jan 2015 - Dec 2019

Women in the developmental state: female employment and empowerment

Jul 2014 - Dec 2019

Tanzania as a Future Petro-State: Prospects and Challenges

Jul 2018 - Aug 2019

[UD(R)-Three evaluations of Norwegian development assistance to private sector de]

Jul 2018 - Aug 2019

[UD(R)-Three evaluations of Norwegian development assistance to private sector de]

Dec 2013 - Dec 2017

ARUSS: Assisting regional universities in Sudan and South Sudan

Oct 2008 - Feb 2014

Ethiopian Flower Farm Employment Project

Apr 2013 - Dec 2013

Evaluation of the Norwegian Aid Administration's Systems & Practices

Jan 2009 - Dec 2010

Poverty traps in industries with low knowledge- and investment barriers

Apr 2008 - Nov 2008

Improving the Integrated Rural Development Projects in Western Ethiopia

May 2007 - Oct 2008

Accounting for Poverty Reduction in Norwegian Development Aid to Mozambique

Mar 2007 - Dec 2007

A review of Norwegian evaluations

Dec 2006 - Mar 2007

Poverty monitoring and macroeconomic advice in Ethiopia

Dec 2004 - Dec 2006

Trade policy and poverty: A review

Jan 2003 - Jun 2005

Poverty monitoring Ethiopia - ICR ESRDF

Jan 2005 - Apr 2005

Development aid - a fresh look

Feb 2003 - Dec 2003

Multialteral aid institutions and strategic donor behavior

Jan 2003 - Dec 2003

Social development, FDI, and domestic investment

Publications

Shortcuts to categories: Journal Articles Reports CMI Reports CMI Working Papers CMI Briefs Conference Papers/ Presentations Newspaper Op-Eds Newspaper Articles Radio and TV appearances Popular Presentations and Lectures

Journal Articles

Journal Article | Jan 2025

Effects of jobs on ethnic switching – Evidence from a field experiment in Ethiopia

Lovise Aalen, Monica Beeder, Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Villanger

Journal of Development Studies

Journal Article | 2024

Jobs and Political Participation: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Ethiopia

Aalen, Lovise and Kotsadam, Andreas and Pieters, Janneke and Villanger, Espen

The Journal of Politics

Journal Article | 2023

Does wealth reduce support for redistribution? Evidence from an Ethiopian housing lottery

Espen Villanger, Asbjørn G. Andersen, Simon Franklin, Tigabu Getahun, Andreas Kotsadam, Vincent Somville

Journal of Public Economics

Journal Article | 2023

Jobs and intimate partner violence. Evidence from a field experiment in Ethiopia

Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Villanger

The Journal of human resources

Journal Article | 2019

Fabrikker mot fattigdom?

Espen Villanger,Sandra Halvorsen

Magma

Journal Article | 2019

Family Law Reform, Employment, and Women’s Political Participation in Ethiopia

Lovise Aalen, Andreas Kotsadam, Espen Villanger

Social Politics: International Studies in Gender, State & Society

Journal Article | 2019

Active private sector development policies revisited: Impacts of the Ethiopian industrial cluster policy

Tigabu Getahun and Espen Villanger

Journal of Development Studies

Journal Article | 2018

Labour-Intensive Jobs for Women and Development: Intra-household Welfare Effects and Its Transmission Channels

Tigabu Getahun and Espen Villanger

Journal of Development Studies

Journal Article | 2017

Local content requirements in the petroleum sector in Tanzania: A thorny road from inception to implementation?

Abel Kinyondo and Espen Villanger

The Extractive Industries and Society

Journal Article | 2016

Back in business: Private sector development for poverty reduction in Norwegian aid

Espen Villanger

Forum for Development Studies

Journal Article | 2016

Why can we not demonstrate the difference that Norwegian aid makes? An evaluation of the results measurement system and practice

Espen Villanger, Derek Poate, Rob Lloyd, and Merima Ali

Journal of Development Effectiveness

Journal Article | 2015

Entrepreneurial abilities and barriers to microenterprise growth: A case study in Nepal

Espen Villanger

Journal of Entrepreneurship

Journal Article | 2014

Assessing aid impacts revisited: results measurement in Norwegian aid

Rob Lloyd and Espen Villanger

Journal of Development Effectiveness

Journal Article | 2014

Results measurement and evaluability: a comparative analysis

Rob Lloyd, Derek Poate, Espen Villanger

Journal of Development Effectiveness

Journal Article | 2009

Assessing aid impact: A review of Norwegian evaluation practice

Espen Villanger and Alf Morten Jerve

Journal of Development Effectiveness

Journal Article | 2008

Cash Transfers Contributing to Social Protection: A Review of Evaluation Findings

Espen Villanger

Forum for Development Studies

Journal Article | 2008

Determinants of Foreign Direct Investment in Services

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

European Journal of Political Economy

Journal Article | 2008

Foreign Direct Investment in the Caribbean

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

Development Policy Review

Journal Article | 2007

Arab Foreign Aid: Disbursement Patterns, Aid Policies and Motives

Espen Villanger

Forum for Development Studies

Journal Article | 2006

Company Interests and Foreign Aid Policy: Playing Donors out against each other.

Espen Villanger

European Economic Review

Journal Article | 2005

Economic Aid to Post-conflict Countries: A Methodological Critique of Collier and Hoeffler.

Astri Suhrke, Espen Villanger and Susan L. Woodward

Conflict, Security and Development

Journal Article | 2004

Company influence on foreign aid disbursement: Is conditionality credible when donors have mixed motives?

Espen Villanger

Southern Economic Journal

Reports

Report in External Series | 2022

Analysis of Norway’s Action Plans on Women, Peace and Security

Torunn Wimpelmann, Elling Tjønneland, Espen Villanger, Pilar Domingo

Report in External Series | 2020

Evaluation of the Norwegian Aid Administration's Approach to Portfolio Management

Rob Lloyd (team Leader), Aoife Murray, Espen Villanger, Pauline Lemaire and Chris Barnett

Report in External Series | 2018

From Donors to Partners? Evaluation of Norwegian Support to Strengthen Civil Society in Developing Countries through Norwegian Civil Society Organisations

Elling N Tjønneland, Svein-Erik Helle, Stein-Erik Kruse, Ingela Ternstrôm, Bjørn Ternstrôm, Yeraswork Admassie, Kanta Singh, Elizabeth Bamwine, Espen Villanger

Report in External Series | 2018

Evaluation of the Norwegian Aid Administration’s Practice of Results-Based Management

Paul Balogun, Rob Lloyd, Espen Villanger and Mary Lagaay

Report in External Series | 2015

Business development for poverty reduction

Espen Villanger,Lars Ivar Oppedal Berge

Report in External Series | 2014

The Strømme Foundation. An organisational review

Elling N. Tjønneland, Espen Villanger

Report in External Series | 2014

Can We Demonstrate the Difference that Norwegian Aid Makes?

Espen Villanger

Report in External Series | 2008

The Challenge of Assessing Aid Impact: A Review of Norwegian Evaluation Practice

Alf Morten Jerve and Espen Villanger

Report in External Series | 2006

Multilateral Aid Agencies and Strategic Donor Behaviour

George Mavrotas and Espen Villanger

Commissioned Report | 2006

Growth with Distribution Framework for Malaysia, 2005-2020

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

CMI Reports

CMI Report | 2024

How can women benefit from private sector development?

Viola Asri, Magnus Hatlebakk and Espen Villanger

CMI Report | 2018

Can Smallholders benefit from the new market opportunities from the extractive industry in Tanzania?

Sosina Bezu, Espen Villanger, Abel Alfred Kinyondo

CMI Report | 2015

Private sector development for poverty reduction. Opportunities and challenges for Norwegian development aid

Espen Villanger,Lars Ivar Oppedal Berge

CMI Report | 2008

Accounting for Poverty Reduction in Norwegian Development Aid to Mozambique

Inge Tvedten, Espen Villanger

CMI Report | 2007

Arab Foreign Aid: Disbursement Patterns, Aid Policies and Motives

Espen Villanger

CMI Report | 2007

Will International Trade Reduce Poverty? A Background Note to NORAD

Arne Wiig, Line Tøndel, Espen Villanger with the contribution from Ottar Mæstad

CMI Report | 2006

Economic Prospects for Ethiopia and Challenges for Poverty Reduction

Espen Villanger

CMI Report | 2005

Does Social Development affect Poverty? The Role of Participation in Income Dynamics in Indonesia 1993-2000

Espen Villanger

CMI Report | 2004

How does social development affect FDI and domestic investment?

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

CMI Report | 2004

Social development and industry level foreign direct investment

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

CMI Working Papers

CMI Working Paper | 2019

Crop market participation among smallholder farmers in Tanzania

Sosina Bezu and Espen Villanger

Sudan Working Paper | 2016

Cross-border trade in the war areas of the Sudans: Smuggling or a form of cooperation?

Dr. Ahmed Elhassab, Omer Mohammad Elhassab, Dr. Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2016

Local content requirements in the petroleum sector in Tanzania: A thorny road from inception to implementation?

Abel Kinyondo, Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2015

Labor-intensive jobs for women and development: Intrahousehold welfare effects and its transmission channels

Tigabu D. Getahun, Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2012

Caste discrimination and barriers to microenterprise growth in Nepal

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2006

Is Bonded Labor Voluntary? A Framework against Forced Work

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2006

Is Bonded Labor Voluntary? Evidence from the Liberation of the Kamaiyas in the Far-Western Region of Nepal

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2005

"Economic Aid to Post-conflict Countries: A Methodological Critique of Collier and Hoeffler"

Astri Suhrke, Espen Villanger and Susan L. Woodward

CMI Working Paper | 2004

Powerful donors and foreign policy: The role of multilateral financial institutions

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2004

The role of participation and empowerment in income and poverty dynamics in Indonesia 1993-2000

Espen Villanger, Anette Walstad Enes

CMI Working Paper | 2004

Determinants of foreign direct investment in services

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2004

Promoting investment in small Caribbean states

Ivar Kolstad and Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2003

The effects of disasters on income mobility: Bootstrap inference and measurement error simulations

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2003

The SAPRIN Report: An assessment of the empirical analysis supporting main conclusions

Espen Villanger, Siegfried Pausewang and Alf Morten Jerve

CMI Working Paper | 2003

Verdensbankens strukturtilpasningsprogrammer: Virkninger og politiske linjeskift

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2003

Company influence on foreign aid disbursement: Is conditionality credible when donors have mixed motives?

Espen Villanger

CMI Working Paper | 2003

Company interests and foreign aid policy: Playing donors out against each other

Espen Villanger

CMI Briefs

CMI Brief | 2024

Improving working conditions for women in African industrial parks

Espen Villanger,Lovise Aalen

CMI Brief | 2016

Lack of consultation. Stakeholders perspectives on local content requirements in the petroleum sector in Tanzania

Espen Villanger (CMI), Abel Kinyondo (Repoa), Ingvild Hestad (CMI)

CMI Brief | 2012

Poverty reduction through microbusiness

Espen Villanger

Conference Papers/ Presentations

Conference Paper / Presentation | 2005

Multilateral Aid Agencies and Strategic Donor Behaviour

George Mavrotas and Espen Villanger

Newspaper Op-Eds

Newspaper Op-Ed | 2020

How women’s employment affects partner violence

Espen Villanger and Andreas Kotsadam

Newspaper Articles

Newspaper Article | 2023

Researchers on why job creation remains a challenge in Tanzania

Espen Villanger

Newspaper Article | 2020

Norfund uten analyse?

Espen Villanger

Newspaper Article | 2020

Bistand går til luksus for olje-ansatte

Espen Villanger

Newspaper Article | 2020

Viktig og riktig Norfund-kritikk

Espen Villanger

Newspaper Article | 2020

Etiopia: Fabrikkarbeid er ingen enkel vei ut av fattigdom

Espen Villanger

Radio and TV appearances

Radio and TV appearance | 2024

Job creation in Tanzania

Espen Villanger

Radio and TV appearance | 2020

Norfund: Bortkastet bistand

Espen Villanger

Economist working on violence against women, ethnic conflict, job creation, private sector development and poverty reduction.

Villanger is the Director at CMI. He has a long track record in impact evaluation and causal analysis in development. Villanger has worked on rigorous evaluations of interventions to reduce poverty, create jobs, empower women and efforts against intimate partner violence. He has published in journals such as the Journal of Human Resources, the Journal of Public Economics, the Journal of Politics and the European Economc Review.

Villanger has been a team leader for a range of quantitative and qualitative evaluations and has several contributions to the aid effectiveness debate. Interested in the documentation of results of development efforts, Villanger has participated in several studies evaluating foreign aid systems. His geographical focus is on the poorest countries in the world, and has worked in Ethiopia, Sudan, Mozambique, Uganda, Tanzania, Namibia and Nepal.

He holds a Ph.D. from the Norwegian School of Economics, and has taught development economics at the University of Bergen. Moreover, he worked as a Senior Economist for the World Bank in the Ethiopia Country Office from 2009 to 2012.