Search our database of 1,200+ summaries of randomized evaluations conducted by our affiliates in 98 countries. To browse key policy recommendations from a subset of these evaluations, visit the Policy Publications tab above.

Displaying 9-16 of 1266
Electrician installing energy efficient lightbulbs

The Impact of Energy Efficiency Messaging on Audit Takeup and Investment in Wisconsin

Hunt Allcott
Michael Greenstone
Researchers examined the informational, behavioral, and monetary drivers behind takeup of residential energy efficiency audits and subsequent investments in Wisconsin. While receipt of promotional letters and subsidies did induce higher rates of audit participation, overall takeup and investment in...
White building with Rural Electrification Authority logo painted

The Impact of Subsidies on the Demand for Electrification in Rural Kenya

Kenneth Lee
Edward Miguel
Catherine Wolfram
Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to measure the impact of offering subsidies to connect to the power grid on the demand for rural electrification in Kenya. The study finds that demand falls rapidly as connection price increases, and that supply costs are very high.
air pollution

The Impact of an Emissions Trading Scheme on Economic Growth and Air Quality in India

Michael Greenstone
Rohini Pande
Nick Ryan
Anant Sudarshan
In India, researchers evaluated the impact of the first emissions trading scheme for particulate matter on air quality, industry compliance costs, and industry profits. Compliance with the market was high, and participating firms substantially reduced their particulate matter emissions without large...
Smoke emitting from tall kiln chimney

Improving Brick Manufacturing in Bangladesh to Promote Clean Air and Better Health

Shoeb Ahmed
Debashish Biswas
Nina Brooks
Stephen Luby
Aprajit Mahajan
Moogdho Mahzab
Sameer Maithel
Grant Miller
Mahbubur Rahman
M. Rofi Uddin
Researchers evaluated the impact of trainings for brick kiln owners and operators on air pollution, CO2 emissions, and kiln profitability.
Man in jumpsuit puts recycling into truck

Recycling Program Take-up and Participation in Northern Peru

Alberto Chong
Dean Karlan
Jeremy Shapiro
Jonathan Zinman
Researchers examined the effect of a series of informational messages on participation in a recycling program in Peru. The messages sought to elicit pressures such as social norms, peer comparison, conformity, authority, and the environmental or social benefits to increased participation. They found...
sinks

Using Peer Pressure to Encourage Handwashing in Argentina

Researchers examined the impact of peer pressure on handwashing behavior by varying whether men using a restroom in Buenos Aires, Argentina were observed by another restroom user. They found that being observed increased urinal flushing by 26.7 percent and handwashing by 19 percent, suggesting that...
A health worker sits with a child

Incentives for Nurses in the Public Health Care System in Udaipur, India

Abhijit Banerjee
Esther Duflo
Rachel Glennerster
Researchers worked with the NGO Seva Mandir to measure the impact of an incentives program that aimed to improve Assistant Nurse Midwife (ANM) attendance in rural clinics in Udaipur. Although the incentive program initially led to a large improvement in attendance, effects faded after the first six...
Man in overalls installs insulation between wood beams,

The Effect of Incentive-Based Pay in the Weatherization Assistance Program on Energy Efficiency in Illinois

Peter Christensen
Paul Francisco
Erica Myers
Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation of the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP), which aims to improve energy efficiency in low-income households. The study tested the impact of performance-based pay for contractors implementing air sealing retrofits as part of IHWAP...