The Fletcher School

A Graduate School of International Affairs

Jenny C. Aker

Jenny C. Aker

jenny.aker@tufts.edu

Address:
112 Packard Avenue
Tufts University
Medford, MA 02155

Assistant Professor of Development Economics

Education

BA, Duke University
MALD, The Fletcher School
MS and PhD in agricultural economics, University of California, Berkeley

Professional Activities

Visiting Fellow, Center for Global Development (2008-2009); Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa (2000-2003), Regional Food Security and Monetization Advisor for West and Central Africa (1998-2000), Catholic Relief Services Research Fellow and Fulbright Scholar, Institute Agronomique et Veterinaire, Universite de Hassan-II, Rabat Morocco (1997-1998); Consultant in international development, holic

Courses

Spring 2010

Research Interests

Development Economics, Information technology, Agricultural markets, Applied Econometrics, Program Evaluation.

Faculty Research Profile - Her research interests focus on the impact of information technology on market actors’ behavior, as well as the role of agro-food market performance in producer and consumer welfare, primarily in West and Central Africa.

Selected Publications

  • Aker, Jenny C. and Isaac Mbiti. 2009. “Mobile Phones and Economic Development.” In submission at the Journal of Economic Perspectives.
  • Aker, Jenny C. and Jesse Tack. “Information Technology and Firms’ Search Behavior.” In submission.
  • Aker, Jenny C. Michael Klein and Steven O’Connell. 2009. “Do Borders Matter? Borders and Agricultural Markets in West Africa.” In progress.
  • Aker, Jenny C. 2008. “Can you Hear me Now? How Cell Phone are Transforming Markets in sub-Saharan Africa. CGD Note
  • Aker, Jenny C. 2008. “Towards Measuring the Impact of the World Food Program’s Purchase for Progress Initiative.” CGD Essay # 1417886.
  • Aker, Jenny C. 2008. “Does Digital Divide or Provide? The Impact of Mobile Phones on Grain Markets in Niger.” BREAD Working Paper #177.
  • Aker, Jenny C. 2008. “Drought and Food Crises in Niger.” CGD Working Paper #157. Washington, D.C.: Center for Global Development.

    • Ongoing Projects

    • Project ABC (Alphbatisation de Base par Cellulaire) (Niger)
    • Borders and Markets in West Africa (Niger)
    • Voter education and participation (Mozambique)