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Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, and read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters. For media inquiries, please email us.

Sensitivity to Interest Rates and Account Ownership Requirements for a Commitment Savings Account in the Philippines

Researchers worked with First Valley Bank in the Philippines to evaluate the impact of varying the interest rate and account ownership requirements on demand for commitment savings accounts. While savings account take-up was 23 percent, neither the interest rates nor the ownership requirements...

The Impact of a Tax Holiday Lottery in Uruguay

Thad Dunning
Felipe Monestier
Rafael Piñeiro
Fernando Rosenblatt
Guadalupe Tuñón
Researchers tested in the case of Montevideo, Uruguay the impact of winning a tax holiday on subsequent tax compliance. Winners of the tax holiday lottery were 3 percentage points less likely to pay taxes in subsequent payment cycles, likely because the holiday disrupted the habit of tax paying, and...

A Universal Program to Raise the Well-being of Rural Communities in Uganda

Many programs that aim to help people in poverty are tailored to specific households. But often, entire communities can be living in poverty. Researchers partnered with the NGO Raising the Village to conduct a randomized evaluation of a universal livelihoods program in Uganda that offered a bundle...

The Profitability of Fertilizer in Mali

Researchers randomly provided free fertilizer to women rice farmers in southern Mali to measure how farmers chose to use the fertilizer, what changes they made to their agricultural practices, and the profitability of these changes. The fertilizer grants led to increased fertilizer use, use of...

Improving Non-Communicable Disease Compliance in India

Daniel Bennett
In India, researchers will evaluate the impact of financial incentives, information, and reminders on treatment regimen compliance among patients of a healthcare provider in the slums of Mumbai.

Developing Students’ Holistic Skills Through Theater-Based Learning in India

Ritam Chaurey
Sara Constantino
Shantanu Khanna
Abhiroop Mukhopadhyay
Nishith Prakash
Raisa Sherif
In partnership with Rang Kaarwaan, researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test whether theater-based instruction in secondary school could improve students’ self-efficacy, emotional regulation, empathy, time management, critical thinking, and other holistic skills in India.

Interfirm Relationships and Business Performance in China

Can facilitating relationships between small- and medium-sized businesses help them grow? In Jiangxi Province, China, researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to study the impact of business relationships on firm performance. Monthly meetings among firms increased sales, profits, and other...

Supplementary Math Courses For Girls to Improve Numeracy Skills and Professional Aspirations in Benin

Markus Opalade
Researchers are evaluating the impact of temporary supplemental math teachers on girls’ numeracy skills, professional aspirations, and early career labor market outcomes.