June 2021 Newsletter
Expanding the Jobs and Opportunity Initiative to Brazil
Brazil faces a variety of labor market challenges, which have been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. While impact evaluations from around the world have identified innovative and effective approaches to increasing employment rates, more research is needed to understand exactly why these approaches work and how to scale them in contexts like Brazil. With support from Fundação Arymax, B3 Social, Potencia Ventures, and the Inter-American Development Bank, J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean is bringing the Jobs and Opportunity Initiative to Brazil to fund evaluations of strategies that address the country’s most pressing employment challenges. Read more »
Overcoming barriers to saving money
Individuals and families in low- and middle-income countries can face many obstacles to saving money. In a new policy brief, we reviewed twelve randomized evaluations and found that commitment savings products—voluntary arrangements that increase the likelihood of saving—play an important role in helping individuals experiencing poverty reach their savings goals. Read more »
New trends in randomized evaluations during Covid‑19
How has the pipeline of randomized evaluations in social science research changed in response to Covid-19? We analyzed public data from the American Economic Association’s Randomized Controlled Trial Registry to identify trends in how research teams, research topics, and geographic scope have changed. On our blog, we discuss the rise in research conducted in North America, Latin America and the Caribbean, and Europe, and the increased focus on health topics. Read more »
Learn more about J-PAL’s response to Covid-19
FEATURED EVALUATION SUMMARY
Improving chlorine usage and child health in Malawi
Contaminated water can cause diarrheal disease, which is the second-leading cause of childhood mortality worldwide. Chlorine can effectively disinfect water, but its usage remains low in sub-Saharan Africa. J-PAL affiliated professor Pascaline Dupas (Stanford; Co-Chair, J-PAL’s Health sector) and coauthors found that monthly coupons to subsidize a water treatment solution improved chlorine usage and child health outcomes. These coupons were more effective and cost-effective than community health workers distributing chlorine for free. Read more »
FEATURED AFFILIATED PROFESSOR
Shawn Cole on digital technology in development economics
In a profile on the J-PAL blog, Shawn Cole (Harvard Business School; Co-Chair, J‑PAL Research, Education, and Training) discusses his efforts to lead a digital revolution in development economics. In particular, he focuses on how to leverage cheap, digital communication tools to transform the agricultural practices of millions of farmers in low- and middle-income countries. Read more »
WELCOMING OUR NEW AFFILIATED PROFESSORS
In summer 2020, 34 new affiliated professors joined the J-PAL network. We'll feature a few of them here each month; click through to read more about their research interests.
Selim Gulesci
Trinity College Dublin
Robert Metcalfe
University of Southern California
Owen Ozier
Williams College
FEATURED EVENTS
[June 30] Emerging Challenges for Indonesia’s Post-Covid Era: Addressing Opportunity, Inequality, and Growth
The Covid-19 pandemic has caused substantial economic disruption in Indonesia, with adverse impacts on jobs and livelihoods, especially among the most vulnerable segments of society. J-PAL Southeast Asia’s webinar will provide insights on the Government of Indonesia’s policy directions and learnings from global evidence on health, inequality, and the environment. The event will feature HE Sri Mulyani (Minister of Finance, Republic of Indonesia) and Abhijit Banerjee (MIT; Director, J‑PAL; Scientific Director, J-PAL Europe), and will be moderated by M. Chatib Basri (Senior Partner, Creco Research). Register »
FEATURED TRAININGS
Apply to CLEAR/J-PAL South Asia's Measurement and Survey Design course by June 30
This five-day online course will introduce participants to foundational concepts in measurement theory and quantitative survey design. Through lectures and case studies, participants will explore the fundamentals of data collection, designing and piloting surveys, developing field protocols, and more. Learn more and register »
Enroll in the MicroMasters summer semester by July 6
The next semester of our online MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP) began on June 1, but registration is open until July 6. Our classes cover a range of topics and skills: learn the statistical program R while building a strong foundation in probability and statistics in Data Analysis for Social Scientists; get an introduction to microeconomic theory, together with real-world research results and policy implications in Microeconomics; and learn how to use economic theory and data analysis to design and implement effective policy in Foundations of Development Policy. Students who complete the full DEDP credential are eligible to apply for the Master’s program in DEDP at MIT. Learn more and register »
Enroll in J-PAL Africa’s Evaluating Social Programs course by July 12
How do you know if your organization’s programs are achieving their intended impact? Join J-PAL Africa’s upcoming online Evaluating Social Programs courses to learn how randomized evaluations can be used to rigorously measure social impact and shape evidence-informed policies and programs. Applications for the course will be reviewed on a rolling basis until July 12, and the course will be held live over Zoom on August 9–13. Learn more and apply »
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Punjab inks pact to launch emissions trading
Hindustan Times
If we can vaccinate the world, we can beat the climate crisis [Opinion]
The Guardian
The disastrous neglect of neglected tropical diseases [Opinion]
Project Syndicate
Jobless benefits don’t make people ‘lazy,’ Nobel laureate Esther Duflo says
The New York Times
The power of pre-K
The New York Times
Tackling gender equality early: Adolescents are very responsive to normalisation of progressive attitudes in schools [Opinion]
The Times of India
NEW RESEARCH PAPERS
Selecting the Most Effective Nudge: Evidence from a Large-Scale Experiment on Immunization
Abhijit Banerjee, Arun G. Chandrasekhar, Suresh Dalpath, Esther Duflo, John Floretta, Matthew O. Jackson, Harini Kannan, Francine N. Loza, Anirudh Sankar, Anna Schrimpf, Maheshwor Shrestha
Can Network Theory-Based Targeting Increase Technology Adoption?
Lori Beaman, Ariel BenYishay, Jeremy Magruder, Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak
Effect of Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit to Americans without Dependent Children on Psychological Distress (Paycheck Plus): A Randomized Controlled Trial
Emilie Courtin, Heidi L. Allen, Lawrence F. Katz, Cynthia Miller, Kali Aloisi, Peter Muennig
Women Left Behind: Gender Disparities in Utilization of Government Health Insurance in India
Pascaline Dupas, Radhika Jain