Evaluations

Policy Publications

Search our database of policy briefcases, bulletins, and evidence reviews. Briefcases summarize the results and policy recommendations from one randomized evaluation, while bulletins synthesize the broader policy lessons emerging from multiple evaluations on the same topic. Evidence reviews summarize an existing academic literature review, like a handbook chapter or white paper, for a policy audience.

Displaying 10-18 of 84
Doctor speaking to parent and child

The Spillover Effects of Health Care Interventions in the United States: Evidence Wrap-Up

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
October 10, 2023
Health care policies and interventions are often designed with a specific population in mind. However, they can have effects that go beyond the specific target population. These effects are referred to as “spillover effects.” This publication showcases studies conducted by J-PAL affiliated...
A group of young friends talk to each other

Cultivating Active Citizenship Skills Among Youth

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
September 28, 2023
A civic education programme implemented through student-centred teaching methods cultivated students’ sense of altruism and tolerance towards others. The intervention also improved students’ academic achievement and school behaviour.
A man works at a spice stall

Winners and Losers: The Benefits and Dangers of Credit

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
August 31, 2023
Providing large loans to small businesses in Egypt had no impact on profits for the average borrower, but entrepreneurs predicted in advance to be top performers saw much higher returns than their peers.
The photo shows a small woodburning fireplace inside a cozy home.

Wood Burning: Improving Pollution Awareness

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
April 10, 2023
In France, general information on the air pollution caused by wood burning, coupled with personalized information on individual households’ air quality, improved households’ awareness of pollution and reduced indoor air pollution levels.
Sign pointing towards emergency room

Understanding Medicaid Expansion: The Effects of Insuring Low-Income Adults

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
January 29, 2014
The Oregon Health Insurance Experiment found that covering the uninsured with Medicaid increased the use of health care, including primary care, hospitalizations, and emergency room visits; diminished financial strain; and reduced depression. There was no statistically significant impact on physical...
female worker operating industrial machine

Evidence in Labor Market Policies and Implications for Brazil: Job Training Programs

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 30, 2022
Skills are important for accessing high-quality jobs and being more productive. However, in Brazil and other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, many people neither receive adequate training nor develop skills that are demanded in the labor market. This publication—produced in co...
Community members attend a meeting promoting the use of women's help desks.

Improving policing in the midst of patriarchy

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
October 25, 2022
In India, creating designated women’s help desks (WHDs) in police stations increased the registration of crimes against women, particularly when staffed by female officers. Key results: The WHD program led to more registrations of cases of violence against women. Stations with WHDs registered 1.5...
A student sits at their desk applying hand sanitizer and wearing a face mask.

Ideas to improve educational outcomes during and after the Covid-19 outbreak

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
September 8, 2022
At the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, an unprecedented 1.6 billion children and youth were out of school. In many contexts, children and youth from disadvantaged backgrounds are at risk of being left further behind as schools reopen around the world. This evidence wrap-up shares ideas for...
Young African American youth paints a mural

The Promises of Summer Youth Employment Programs: Lessons from Randomized Evaluations

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
March 24, 2022
Summer youth employment programs are an evidence-based option for improving the lives of young people in outcome areas as diverse as criminal justice involvement, education, and youth development. J-PAL North America’s SYEP evidence review presents findings from thirteen randomized evaluations of...