March 2018 Newsletter
J-PAL launches new Gender sector
The new Gender sector represents J-PAL’s commitment to further expand the base of policy-relevant evidence to reduce poverty and gender inequality. Chaired by Seema Jayachandran (Northwestern University), the Gender sector will examine a range of issues important to citizens, policymakers, and practitioners around the world: How can we most effectively address gender disparities and inequality at scale? Are existing development programs closing the gender gap in human development? How do gender dynamics in families and society affect the impact of these programs? And how can we best measure changes in outcomes like agency and empowerment? Read more from Seema »
Teaching at the Right Level: Inside the classroom
The Zambian Ministry of General Education is adapting the Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach for its Catch Up program. TaRL pioneer Pratham, together with J-PAL Africa, worked with the ministry to produce a set of videos that transport the viewer into a Catch Up classroom and highlight how essential aspects of the TaRL approach have been customized to the Zambian context. Read more »
Fady Jameel, president of Community Jameel, on leveraging partnerships to tackle development challenges
Community Jameel has worked with J-PAL to apply and share knowledge across the Middle East. In addition to collaborating in the region, Community Jameel supports J-PAL’s strategic efforts around the world. For example, with the backing of Community Jameel, this year J-PAL Europe aims to tackle barriers to social inclusion, like immigration and lack of education. Read more »
Addressing the challenges of publication bias with RCT registration
Until recently, we knew very little about results of randomized evaluations in the social sciences if they were never published. The American Economic Association's RCT Registry was launched in 2012 to address this problem by creating a centralized public registry in which new, ongoing, and completed studies are documented, regardless of publication status. Data from the first five years of the registry illustrate some promising trends in trial registration and research transparency. Read more »
Featured Publication
Bridging barriers to college in the United States
College application and enrollment processes can be a barrier to college access for many students. Evidence from randomized evaluations suggests that inexpensive interventions that simplify the college application process and provide personalized guidance can help students enroll and stay in college. Read our lastest Bulletin (PDF) »
Affiliate Spotlight
Christopher Neilson on college chatbots and Siri as a helicopter parent
In our interview with Christopher Neilson (Princeton University), he describes his research interest in applications of technology to close information gaps to reduce poverty. “I think in the future, we will see artificial intelligence ‘personal assistants’ helping humans make better choices... I am hopeful that leveling the information playing field would make society more meritocratic and generate more social mobility.” Read more »
Upcoming Events
April 4: Elie Hassenfeld of GiveWell on making donor dollars count
On April 4, we continue our Data, Decisions, Public Policy series with Elie Hassenfeld, Co-founder and Executive Director of GiveWell. GiveWell is dedicated to identifying outstanding giving opportunities and publishing the full details of their analyses to help donors decide where to give. In “Making Donor Dollars Count: GiveWell's Approach to Selecting Charities,” Elie will share examples of GiveWell's top charities, including Deworm the World and GiveDirectly, to illustrate how GiveWell's selection criteria are applied, and will discuss their plans for the future. Register to attend or watch the live webcast »
UPCOMING TRAININGS
June 11-15: Evaluating Social Programs, Cambridge, MA
J-PAL Global and J-PAL North America are offering a five-day Executive Education Course, “Evaluating Social Programs,” at MIT in Cambridge, MA from June 11-15, 2018. In this course, participants learn how to design, implement, and use randomized evaluations. Participants typically include directors, managers, program officers, and researchers from governments, nonprofits, international development organizations, and foundations, as well as trained economists looking to retool. Learn more and apply »
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Women's reservation bill will bridge the gender gap in political decision-making in India [Opinion]
Hindustan Times
Better governing through science
MIT Spectrum
Do corporate wellness programs work?
Marketplace
Sustainable agriculture: Punjab has a new plan to move farmers away from water-guzzling paddy
Indian Express
Abhijit Banerjee on the effectiveness of overseas aid [Audio]
Future Tense
NEW RESEARCH PAPERS
Better Together? Social Networks in Truancy and the Targeting of Treatment
Magdalena Bennett and Peter Bergman
Debt Traps? Market Vendors and Moneylender Debt in India and the Philippines
Dean Karlan, Sendhil Mullainathan, and Benjamin Roth
FEATURED JOBS
Research Associate, J-PAL Latin America & the Caribbean (Santiago, Chile)
Associate Director, Administration and Finance, J-PAL North America (Cambridge, MA, US)
Policy Manager (Health), J-PAL Global (Cambridge, MA, US)
Senior Policy Associate (Health), J-PAL Global (Cambridge, MA, US)
Research and Training Associate, J-PAL Global (Cambridge, MA, US)
Training Associate, J-PAL Global (Cambridge, MA, US)
Explore open positions around the world »
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