Search our database of 1,200+ summaries of randomized evaluations conducted by our affiliates in 99 countries. To browse key policy recommendations from a subset of these evaluations, visit the Policy Publications tab above.

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Indian man in a field talking on phone

Using Technology to Improve Direct Benefit Transfer in India

Eric Dodge
Charity Troyer Moore
Yusuf Neggers
Rohini Pande
Can using technological innovations for monitoring improve the administrative implementation of social protection programs? In partnership with the Ministry of Rural Development in two states in India, researchers conducted a randomized evaluation of a new internet- and mobile-based management and...
A man holding a folder stands in front of a house

Subsidized Land Titles, Social Institutions, and Land Formalization in the Democratic Republic of Congo

Pablo Balán
Augustin Bergeron
Gabriel Tourek
Jonathan Weigel
In Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of a subsidized land titling program on both starting and completing land registration, as well as on citizens’ participation in social institutions. Being offered a land titling subsidy...
A surveyor interviews a study participant

Using Mobile Phones to Connect Politicians and Voters in Pakistan

Miriam Golden
Saad Gulzar
Luke Sonnet
In Pakistan, researchers are evaluating the impact of using mobile phones to directly connect politicians with voters and give voters the opportunity to provide real-time feedback to their elected representatives.
Two women engage in a transaction with one operating a mobile phone while the other holds a point-of-sale (POS) device

Increasing Mobile Banking Use Among Rural Populations in Ghana

Robert Osei
Emma Riley
Abu Shonchoy
Researchers assessed the impact of financial incentives and peer endorsement on mobile banking adoption and formal savings in Ghana. While financial incentives boosted adoption by 50 percent, peer endorsement was twice as effective, leading to sustained mobile banking use and a 30 percent increase...
Student being called on by a teacher

Educational Returns of Boarding Schools for Underserved Secondary School Children in France

Luc Behaghel
Clement de Chaisemartin
Axelle Charpentier
Marc Gurgand
Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of boarding schools on educational outcomes and well-being for children with disadvantaged backgrounds in France. The top third of students admitted to France’s first “boarding school of excellence” had large improvements in math...
student wearing headphones sitting in front of a laptop

Improving Educational Outcomes through Online Tutoring during Schools Closures in Italy during the Covid-19 Outbreak

Michela Carlana
Eliana La Ferrara
Researchers designed a free online tutoring program delivered by volunteer university students to test whether it could mitigate the effects of school closures during the COVID-19 outbreak. They found that the program had a positive outcome on students' learning outcomes, socio-emotional skills, and...
Two women sell fruits on a sidewalk in Cartagena, Colombia

Impacts of Flexible Loans on Borrower Behavior and Microenterprise Outcomes in Colombia

Lasse Brune
Xavier Giné
Dean Karlan
Researchers evaluated the impact of a flexible microloan product on new clients' repayment behavior, business outcomes, and client satisfaction. The results showed that the flexible loan led to some shifts in investment behavior but had no average impact on revenue or profits and led to higher...
Close up, business woman using mobile smart phone

The Effect of Text Message Reminders on Failure to Appear in Court in the Rural United States

Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of text message reminders on rates of failure to appear in court (FTA) among people who are unhoused and housed in rural Shasta County, California. The reminders reduced FTA rates for the housed population, but did not impact FTA rates...