June 2024 Newsletter
Beyond borders: Explore Yhdessä, a new digital photo exhibit
📍Finland
Through Yhdessä (Together), J-PAL Europe connects rigorous research and visual storytelling by capturing the tangible, human experiences at the core of J-PAL’s work. The documentary photo project, conceptualized by Mariajose Silva-Vargas (Research and Policy Manager, J-PAL Europe) and Ottavia Brussino (Senior Policy and Training Associate, J-PAL Europe), explores the activities of Kytke, a Finnish primary school program that fosters open-mindedness and inclusion among students, by blending professional portraits with snapshots captured by students themselves. On the J-PAL blog, they also share the story behind the project.
Egyptian and Indonesian governments exchange best practices for evidence-based policymaking
A high-level Egyptian delegation participated in a learning exchange visit in Jakarta, Indonesia in late May. The visit, organized by the Egypt Impact Lab in collaboration with J‑PAL Middle East and North Africa and J-PAL Southeast Asia, aimed to strengthen the knowledge ecosystem in Egypt through creating partnerships and sharing best practices in evidence-informed policymaking.
The week-long trip was supported by the Islamic Development Bank and Community Jameel, and featured a series of visits and meetings with key Indonesian ministries and agencies. Learn more »
Enhancing financial inclusion through digital services
A new review of 28 randomized evaluations highlights the extensive benefits of digital financial services, including increased remittances, enhanced financial resilience, and poverty reduction.
Policy issue: Digital financial services are transforming economies by increasing access to formal accounts, especially for marginalized communities. They have the potential to enhance financial inclusion by providing secure and efficient access to savings, credit, and other services that are crucial for economic resilience and poverty alleviation. However, challenges like overborrowing, consumer protection risks, and gender disparities need further research.
Results: The broader availability of digital services has lowered the costs of remittance transactions, enhancing financial risk-sharing and contributing to poverty alleviation. Policymakers must address remaining barriers and promote consumer protection to fully harness the potential of these services for inclusive economic growth.
Menstrual hygiene program boosts girls' learning and well-being
📍Madagascar
Policy issue: Inadequate hygiene knowledge, products, and facilities at schools, compounded by cultural attitudes that create taboos around menstruation, may create obstacles to girls’ health and education. In honor of Menstrual Hygiene Day, J-PAL’s Gender sector shared evidence from a newly published randomized evaluation of a menstrual hygiene program in Madagascar.
Evaluation: In partnership with the NGO CARE, researchers evaluated the impact of providing access to sanitation infrastructure and products and teacher training on hygienic behaviors. They also identified and trained peer girl leaders to advocate against menstrual stigma and promote positive hygiene practices to their peers at school.
Results: Building sanitation infrastructure, providing menstrual products, and increasing teacher awareness significantly boosted girls’ academic performance. The researchers suggest these improvements stemmed from girls’ reduced stress levels and a better psychosocial environment at school. Peer leaders were particularly effective at improving menstrual and general hygiene knowledge and behaviors, as well as reducing menstrual stigma.
Research by: J-PAL affiliated professor Karen Macours (Paris School of Economics; Co‑Chair, J‑PAL’s Health sector), Julieta Vera Rueda, and Duncan Webb
JOI Brazil: Three years of supporting employment and livelihoods
The Jobs and Opportunity Initiative Brazil (JOI Brazil) is celebrating three years of generating research on helping Brazilians access stable and dignified work opportunities. With the support of Fundação Arymax, B3 Social, Fundação Tide Setubal, Potencia Ventures, the Inter-American Development Bank, and Insper, the initiative has doubled the volume of J-PAL-funded research in Brazil and fostered crucial partnerships for informing local policy. A new blog post from J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean details how JOI Brazil has set the stage to ensure that research is accessible to and used by decision-makers. Read more »
Increasing diversity in clinical trial participation in the United States
Clinical trials test new and innovative health care solutions, but often lack diversity among patients, which contributes to racial health disparities in the United States and makes results less generalizable. Researchers evaluated whether the racial representation of clinical trial investigators can impact Black individuals’ willingness to participate in these studies. In an interview on the J-PAL blog, the research team shares their motivations, insights, and how their work contributes to broader discussions of increasing racial diversity in research in the United States. Read more »
Research by: J-PAL affiliated professor Marcella Alsan (Harvard Kennedy School), Romaine A. Campbell, Lukas Leister, and Ayotomiwa Ojo
WELCOMING OUR NEW AFFILIATED PROFESSORS
In summer 2023, 33 talented researchers joined the J-PAL network. We feature a few of them here each month.
Sean Higgins
Northwestern University
Gianmarco León-Ciliotta
Universitat Pompeu Fabra
Amma Pancin
University of Louvain
FEATURED EVENTS
Last call to submit papers: Jobs and Development Conference, Cairo
🗓️ June 13
The 2024 Jobs and Development Conference will take place on October 8–9 at the American University in Cairo. The conference will bring together researchers from around the world and focus on policy-relevant research on identifying solutions to employment challenges in low- and middle-income countries. It is hosted by J-PAL Middle East and North Africa and co-organized and funded by the World Bank, UNU-WIDER, and the International Labour Organization as well as a worldwide partnership of research institutes, such as the Development Policy Research Unit at the University of Cape Town and the Institute for Structural Research. Interested researchers are invited to answer the call for papers by June 13. Learn more and apply »
Public lecture in Germany with Abhijit Banerjee: Lessons from the fight against global poverty
🗓️ June 26
Abhijit Banerjee (MIT; Director, J-PAL; Scientific Director, J-PAL Europe) will deliver a public lecture on "Experimentation and the fight against poverty: What have we learned and what’s next?" for policymakers, researchers, students, and the general public on June 26 in Germany. The lecture, hosted by J-PAL Europe and KfW, will be held at the Humboldt University of Berlin School of Business and Economics. Registration is not required for attendance. Learn more »
🗞️ MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
How a quantum scientist, a nurse, and an economist are joining the fight against global poverty
MIT News
Connecting college students with enriching work experiences
The Brookings Institution
A modest intervention that helps low-income families beat the poverty trap
MIT News
Can the market in voluntary carbon credits help reduce global emissions in line with Paris Agreement targets? [Opinion]
Science
What if canceling people’s medical debt doesn’t help them?
Vox
📄 NEW RESEARCH PAPERS
Personalizing or Reminding? How to Better Incentivize Savings Among Underbanked Individuals
Viviane Azevedo, Jeanne Lafortune, Liliana Olarte, and José Tessada
Long-Term Effects of Preschool Subsidies and Cash Transfers on Child Development: Evidence from Uganda
Kjetil Bjorvatn, Denise Ferris, Selim Gulesci, Arne Nasgowitz, Vincent Somville, and Lore Vandewalle
Beyond Poverty Reduction: Evidence from a Multifaceted Program on Poverty, Nutrition, and Child Development
Adrien Bouguen and Andrew Dillon
Private Sector Promotion of Agricultural Technologies: Experimental Evidence from Nigeria
Lenis Saweda Onipede Liverpool-Tasie, Andrew Dillon, Jeffrey R. Bloem, and Guigonan Serge Adjognon