March 2021 Newsletter
Economic growth is not enough: Using evidence to design better social policies
People often ask us: Why do randomized evaluations answer so-called “small” questions about the efficacy of social programs, and why not focus on economic growth to reduce poverty instead? In an opinion piece originally published in Project Syndicate, J-PAL Global Executive Director Iqbal Dhaliwal and Senior Associate Samantha Friedlander respond to these questions. To tackle pressing global issues like poverty, inequality, and climate change, we need rigorous evaluations to get the details of social policies right. Read more »
Closing the Covid-19 trust deficit to promote vaccination
Misinformation and distrust in health systems lead fewer people to follow health guidelines and receive the Covid-19 vaccine. J-PAL’s Health sector co-chairs Joseph Doyle (MIT), Pascaline Dupas (Stanford), and Karen Macours (Paris School of Economics) discuss recent literature and share policy lessons for building trust in health systems to increase Covid-19 vaccine uptake. Read more »
Adapting to the challenges of 2020 and laying out a vision for 2021
Last year brought new challenges and demanded innovative solutions. In the 2020-21 online edition of “Improving Lives Through Evidence,” see how our research, policy, and capacity building work evolved to adapt to lockdowns and meet new evidence needs, and explore our ambitious agenda for the year ahead. Read more »
Learn more about J-PAL’s response to Covid-19
FEATURED POLICY INSIGHT
Designing financial and social protection programs to enhance women’s economic empowerment
J-PAL’s Gender sector recently published a review of 35 studies across 20 low- and middle-income countries that found access to financial resources or services did not consistently enhance women’s economic empowerment. This was because women were often unable to maintain control over the use of funds within their households. Policymakers should consider design features, like digital transfers and commitment savings accounts, that enhance women’s control. Read more »
FEATURED EVALUATION
Improving job seekers’ employment and earnings through information in Germany
Lack of information and low motivation can make it difficult for job seekers to effectively search for work. J-PAL affiliated professor Simon Jäger (MIT) and coauthors tested the impact of providing recently unemployed individuals in Germany with informational brochures on job search strategies that motivated them to actively look for a job. Providing the brochures improved employment prospects and earnings for job seekers who were at an increased risk of long-term unemployment, but not for others. 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.
Kyle Emerick
Tufts University
Arya Gaduh
University of Arkansas
Neale Mahoney
Stanford University
Paolo Pinotti
Bocconi University
Heather Royer
UC Santa Barbara
Lore Vandewalle
The Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies
FEATURED EVENTS
Webinar recap: Banking the Unbanked
Last month, J-PAL Southeast Asia’s Inclusive Financial Innovation Initiative hosted a webinar on advancing digital finance in Indonesia. Grace Retnowati and Raunak Kapoor from MicroSave Consulting Indonesia shared an overview of the country’s branchless banking agent network, and researchers Gianmarco León-Ciliotta and Firman Witoelar presented findings from their study on agent incentives. Read the event recap »
Webinar recording: IDEA Handbook Webinar Series
The Innovations in Data and Experiments for Action Initiative recently concluded a webinar series for its Handbook on Using Administrative Data for Research and Evidence-Based Policy. In each webinar, chapter authors shared case studies on successful administrative data partnerships and technical expertise for data access and use. Watch the recordings »
FEATURED TRAININGS
Join the MicroMasters spring semester by March 12
The current semester of our online MicroMasters program in Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP) started on February 9, but it’s not too late to join! Through a series of five online courses and proctored exams, learners in the program gain a strong foundation in microeconomics, development economics, and statistics, while engaging with cutting-edge field research. Students who complete the full DEDP credential are eligible to apply for the in-person DEDP master’s program at MIT. Learn more and register »
Enroll now in J-PAL 101x: Evaluating Social Programs
J-PAL’s online Evaluating Social Programs course is open until May 27. Enroll in this free, self-paced course to learn how to use randomized evaluations to rigorously measure the impact of social programs. Through lectures from MIT faculty and J‑PAL affiliated professors, along with case studies of real randomized evaluations, participants will cover topics ranging from how to effectively measure outcomes and choose an appropriate sample size, to common threats to the validity of a study. Learn more and register »
MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
Punjab to join hands with UN, other global agencies to empower women
Times of India
Economist Catherine Wolfram joins US treasury to focus on energy & climate policy
Berkeley Haas Newsroom
King Climate Action Initiative announces new research to test and scale climate solutions
MIT News
Study: Covid-19 communications featuring racially diverse physicians can improve health outcomes for communities of color
MIT News
The pandemic pushed this farmer into deep poverty. Then something amazing happened
NPR Goats and Soda
NEW RESEARCH PAPERS
Market Access and Quality Upgrading: Evidence from Three Field Experiments
Tessa Bold, Selene Ghisolfi, Frances Nsonzi, Jakob Svensson
‘Mobile’izing Agricultural Advice: Technology Adoption, Diffusion, and Sustainability
Shawn A. Cole, A. Nilesh Fernando
When Transparency Fails: Financial Incentives for Local Banking Agents in Indonesia
Erika Deserranno, Gianmarco León-Ciliotta, Firman Witoelar
Improving Toddlers’ Healthy Eating Habits and Self-regulation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Robert L. Nix, Lori A. Francis, Mark E. Feinberg, Sukhdeep Gill, Damon E. Jones, Michelle L. Hostetler, Cynthia A. Stifter