Research in Action
Researchers in our network worked closely with governments and nonprofits to develop and test innovative solutions to existing and emerging social policy challenges. A few highlights of this year's new J-PAL-funded research are below—stay tuned for results.
Highlights from our affiliated researchers
Breaking the bubble: The determinants and effects of political deliberations: In a Governance Initiative-funded study in Brazil, researchers Adrian Blattner (Stanford), Nicholas Bloom (Stanford), and Vlastimil Rasocha (Stanford) investigate how exposure to political discourse with opposing partisans influences political participation, voting choices, inter-group attitudes, and support for democracy.
Improving learning through mental health and socioemotional skills: In a comprehensive study of school-based socio-emotional learning and mental health programs in Colombia targeting over 87,000 students, funded by J-PAL’s Leaning for All Initiative, researchers Michael Kremer (University of Chicago), Juan Saavedra (University of Southern California), Frank Schilbach (MIT), and Gautam Rao (University of California, Berkeley) are assessing the program’s impact on student mental health, academic performance, and long-term economic outcomes like earnings.
Technology adoption in microfinance: Microfinance institutions are increasingly exploring digital solutions to streamline operations and influence clients’ financial behaviors. In Indonesia, in a project funded by J-PAL Southeast Asia’s Inclusive Financial Innovation Initiative, Mathias Sinning (Australian National University), Nurina Merdikawati (Australian National University), and Rizki Nauli Siregar (University of Mainz) are collaborating with a microfinance cooperative serving female clients to pilot a study on the impact of a new mobile app designed for the cooperative’s operations and client needs. The project will explore barriers clients may encounter in adopting this technology, with the potential to further empower clients compared to conventional digital wallets.
Nurturing STEM talent in school: Michela Carlana (Harvard Kennedy School), in a Science for Progress Initiative-backed study, is tackling the underrepresentation of women in STEM by examining girls’ participation in advanced coding clubs in Italy. Building on preliminary evidence, this randomized evaluation will explore how mixed-gender versus single-sex coding classes influence girls' track choices in high-stakes academic decisions and their perceptions of gender stereotypes in schools and society.
Humanitarian aid and its consequences: In a study in Pakistan funded by J-PAL’s Governance Initiative, Miguel Fajardo-Steinhäuser (London School of Economics), Michael Callen (London School of Economics), and Adil Saeed (Center for Economic Research in Pakistan) are examining how different methods of delivering humanitarian aid affect recipients' beliefs about government legitimacy and their political participation by comparing two delivery approaches: cash aid and aid distributed through digital channels. The study is analyzing aspects like efficiency, accessibility, and security.
Nudges to increase flu vaccinations: In a study funded by the US Health Care Delivery Initiative, researchers Joseph Doyle (MIT), Chris Chabris (Geisinger), and Michelle Meyer (Mastercard) are exploring the impact of personalized "nudge" messages—using machine learning to tailor reminders predicted to be most effective—on flu vaccination rates for a sample of more than 60,000 people. The results of their research hold promise for identifying how to tailor messages to be most effective, as well as optimal flu shot timing throughout the flu season.
Lead photo credit: S Nanda Kumar, J-PAL