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 37-45 of 84
Woman selling bread at a market. Myriam B | Shutterstock

Inspiring Success: Personalized Trainings for Microenterprises

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
August 1, 2019
An randomized evaluation found that adding sessions with role models and individualized assistance to intensive training courses for microentrepreneurs increased their household incomes, mainly through improved business practices and performances
Young students in India sitting outside

Reshaping Adolescents’ Gender Attitudes: Encouraging Students to Discuss Gender Equality in the Classroom

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
May 1, 2019
A series of interactive classroom discussions about gender equality over two and a half years increased students’ support for gender equality and led students to enact more gender-equitable behavior in the state of Haryana, India.
A healthcare worker and mother with a baby in sub-Saharan Africa.

In the Business of Saving Lives

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
February 5, 2019
In Uganda, an incentivized community health promoter program increased health care access, knowledge, and health-promoting behaviors among households, leading to a 27 percent reduction in child mortality.
Two high school students sit at desks with their tutor for personalized instruction

Will Technology Transform Education for the Better?

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
January 1, 2019
In recent years, there has been widespread excitement around the transformative potential of technology in education. The hype around education technology is rapidly outpacing evaluation of ed tech programs. How do we ensure that these innovative tools are actually helping our students learn? And...
Classroom in Italy | Photo by Stefano Guidi Shutterstock.com

Mind the Gap: Aligning Immigrant Students' Aspirations to Abilities

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 27, 2018
Offering tutoring and career counseling to high-performing immigrant students closed the educational gap between native-born and immigrant boys in Italy.
Children and a teacher in the classroom. Photo: Shutterstock.com

Are All Students Ready for Boarding?

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 19, 2018
Disadvantaged students who attended France’s first “boarding school of excellence” had large improvements in math scores after two years. Students initially experienced reductions in well-being, but adjusted to their new environment by the second year.
parents attending school information meetings. Photo: Aude Guerrucci | J-PAL

Considering All the Options: A Low-Cost Way to Reduce School Dropout

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
November 19, 2018
Parent meetings with school principals that provided guidance on selecting academic tracks helped reduce grade repetition and high school dropout among low-achieving students in France.
Young women take a group photo

Reducing Pregnancy Among Adolescents

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
June 12, 2018
Across a range of programs, interventions that successfully changed the calculus of costs and benefits of unprotected sexual activity and childbirth delayed pregnancy among adolescents. Some programs directly altered costs and benefits while others shifted perceptions of them.
Youth in safety vests painting a wall

Stopping a Bullet with a Summer Job

Last Updated:
Last Updated:
March 12, 2018
Summer youth employment programs that provided minimum wage summer jobs to mainly disadvantaged youth in New York City and Chicago reduced arrests for violent crimes, incarceration, and premature deaths.