
RCT
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How are econometric methods applied by researchers in development economics?
How has research featured on VoxDev used different econometric techniques? Here are some examples from recent development economics research, offering insights for students, teachers and academics.
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Tax amnesty: An effective tool for increasing the tax base?
Tax amnesties are a popular tool used by governments to encourage individuals and firms to partially fulfil their outstanding tax obligations, yet little is known about their effectiveness. Evidence from the Dominican Republic shows how partial forgi...
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Unlocking financial protection for informal workers by bundling health insurance with microcredit
Bundling health insurance with microcredit reduced out-of-pocket health expenses by 50% among informal workers in Burkina Faso without decreasing microcredit uptake, offering a promising pathway to universal health coverage.
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Better training, better police: Evidence from Mexico
Evidence from Mexico City shows training enhances officer interactions with citizens and reduces harmful conduct, providing valuable insights for improving frontline services.
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Why bundled agricultural programmes may succeed where others fail
A bundled farm programme in western Kenya boosted yields and profits for smallholders by jointly tackling credit, information, and risk constraints.
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How family pressure shapes hiring decisions and productivity in developing countries
Many businesses in developing countries hire workers from family networks. How does redistributive pressure from family influence hiring decisions? And how do these hiring decisions affect business profits?
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Cash transfers can outperform more complex economic aid programmes
Benchmarking multi-dimensional in-kind programmes against cost-equivalent unconditional cash transfers reveals that cash can be more effective in improving consumption and asset accumulation.
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Calling all parents: Boosting early childhood outcomes in Uruguay
A phone-based intervention in Uruguay, which included access to an AI chatbot, demonstrates how behavioural insights can enhance parenting practices and improve early childhood development at scale.
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Why knowing your HIV status can be fatal when there are no treatment options
In 2004, a randomised controlled trial provided individuals in Malawi with information about their HIV status, despite treatment being unavailable in the country at the time. Did knowing one’s diagnosis help or hurt?