Enhancing Judicial Efficiency Through Court Reports: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Efficient judicial systems are essential for upholding the rule of law and fostering economic stability. However, many courts face significant challenges, including case backlogs and administrative inefficiencies, which can hinder access to justice. This research project, led by Rene Panti (IPA), Danielle Kent (The University of Sydney) and Guglielmo Briscese (The University of Chicago), in partnership with the Supreme Court of the Philippines, aims to address these inefficiencies through a novel, behaviorally informed intervention.

The trial will pilot the impact of monthly scorecards that provide judiciary staff with regular, comparative feedback on key efficiency metrics. By leveraging social comparisons, we hypothesize that this low-cost, scalable intervention will enhance judicial productivity, motivate staff, and ultimately reduce case congestion. The research involves randomizing lower courts into control and treatment groups, and comparing outcomes such as case clearance rates, case disposition rates, and compliance with reporting standards across groups.

This project contributes to the field of behavioral economics and finance by examining how behavioral insights—such as peer benchmarking—can drive better outcomes for citizens and financial efficiencies in the public sector. The findings have significant implications for governance and policy, offering evidence-based interventions that could inform broader judicial reforms and improve citizens' access to timely justice. By equipping courts with actionable data, this study aims to modernize court operations and enhance institutional accountability, generating lasting value for both policymakers and the public.