Search our database of 1,200+ summaries of randomized evaluations conducted by our affiliates in 97 countries. To browse key policy recommendations from a subset of these evaluations, visit the Policy Publications tab above.

Displaying 9-16 of 1266
A voter casts her vote at a polling station during the by-election in Lahore, Pakistan, October 14, 2018

Changing Politicians' Responsiveness through the Provision of Voter Information in Pakistan

Asad Liaqat
Uninformed elected leaders or voters can negatively affect political accountability, such as decision-making on what and how public services are delivered to citizens. The researcher partnered with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz party in Lahore to evaluate the demand and responsiveness of local...
Hands hold a letter next to opened envelope

How can Bill and Melinda Gates Increase Other People's Donations?

Dean Karlan
John List
Altruistic individuals may hesitate to give when they doubt the quality of a charity, but knowing that a high-profile donor supports the charity might alleviate these concerns. Researchers evaluated the impact of publicizing a matching grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) on...
school Students studying in classroom

Do Students Benefit from Blended Instruction?

Andreas de Barros
In partnership with Avanti Fellows, this study evaluates the impact of the Sankalp program, which provides teachers with resources and training to blend their instruction with video-based learning materials, on student’s math and science test scores.
student learning from books in the classroom of their school, scene in a rural or small village school in India

The Impact of Sustained Cognitive Effort on Student Performance in India

Christina Brown
Supreet Kaur
Geeta Kingdon
Heather Schofield
Researchers evaluated the impact of practicing sustained cognitive activity on cognitive endurance and school performance in Lucknow, India. Students that spent additional time engaging in sustained cognitive effort received higher grades in all of their classes, improved their performance on tests...
University students from around the world working together

Interaction, Stereotypes and Performance: Evidence from South Africa

Justine Burns
Lucia Corno
Eliana La Ferrara
Researchers studied the effects of a university policy in South Africa to promote racial integration, by randomly allocating incoming students to roommates of a different race. The policy reduced negative racial stereotypes among white students, improved attitudes and behaviors towards members of...
Close up, business woman using mobile smart phone

The Effect of Text Message Reminders on Failure to Appear in Court in the Rural United States

Emily Owens
Carly Will Sloan
Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of text message reminders on rates of failure to appear in court (FTA) among people who are unhoused and housed in rural Shasta County, California. The reminders reduced FTA rates for the housed population, but did not impact FTA rates...
people disembark from the ferry to Freetown port capital of the Sierra Leone

The Effect of Information on Politician Selection in Sierra Leone

Katherine Casey
Abou Bakarr Kamara
Researchers partnered with the two major political parties in Sierra Leone and conducted a randomized evaluation to test the impact of providing reliable information on potential candidates’ qualifications and sharing voter preferences with party officials during Parliamentary elections. More...
Local Villagers digging and cleaning canal under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, government providing job for rural living people

Enhancing Local Public Service Delivery through Financial Reform of India's Employment Guarantee

Abhijit Banerjee
Esther Duflo
Clement Imbert
Santhosh Mathew
Rohini Pande
Social programs in developing countries are often plagued by corruption, especially within the flow of funds from the central government to beneficiaries. For the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) in India, the central government disburses funds to local governments...