May 27, 2009
Commentary
Flagging Failure
IPA research affiliate Chris Blattman occasionally takes a break from his rigorous impact evaluations of clowns to send a great idea out into the blogosphere. A couple of weeks ago, he suggested that what development organizations really need to document is not best practices, but “worst practices”. The idea is that sharing worst practices could prevent organizations from repeating one another’s mistakes.
May 20, 2009
Day in the Life
Reactions from a Control Group in Ghana
A funny thing is happening these days in Northern Ghana. After months and months of planning, we are almost at the point where we give 200 farmers actual cash to use on their maize farms. As with many of IPA’s research projects, the participants are selected at random. In other words, we’ve surveyed 500 farmers about their farming practices, but only 200 will receive capital grants.
May 20, 2009
Project Update
Saving for School Requirements in Uganda
Once, expressing concern over some logistical difficulty, I was reassured by a headmaster, “Do not worry Sarah, we shall succeed.” Such conversations tend to surprise me, as we’re introducing a savings scheme to an area defined by general distrust of financial services and particularly those having to do with savings. In spite of this fact, and though the program’s pilot has only been running for a couple months, the scheme has generated an extremely positive response.
May 14, 2009
Commentary
Econometric debate on randomized controlled trials (RCTs)
So far, 2009 has been a fertile time for methodological debates in econometrics. One hot debate touches directly on randomized control trials (RCTs), a methodology often used in impact evaluations of development interventions. On one side, renowned Princeton development economist Angus Deaton argues that randomized experiments are overhyped and that other methods of learning about impacts provide guidance which is often more closely related to theory. On the other side, Guido Imbens reminds readers of the reasons why randomized experiments have gained a wide following. Other methods rely on assumptions that often make them not quite fully convincing.
May 5, 2009
Commentary
Microfinance Debates
A recent Times (UK) Online article resurrects two debates about microfinance. The first is whether it really works as a poverty-fighting tool, and the second is whether the increasing commercialization of microfinance should be seen as a challenge or an opportunity.
May 4, 2009
Commentary
Instruments for impact of microfinance
Nice blog post by David Roodman at the Center for Global Development. Two randomized trials on microcredit coming within the next month. One from India and one from Philippines. Stay tuned please....
May 1, 2009
Commentary
Self-fulfilling prophecy?
In a set of recent interviews with microfinance institutions in the Philippines, we discussed the challenges faced by organizations offering agricultural microloans. One non-profit we spoke with is having particular difficulty, with portfolio at risk over 30% and default at 25%.