Escaping Poverty—COVID-19 Phone Survey

Escaping Poverty—COVID-19 Phone Survey

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Researchers

Angela Ofori-Atta, Nathan Barker, Gharad Bryan, Dean Karlan, Christopher Udry

Abstract

Escaping Poverty (EP) explores the link between mental health and efforts to improve economic productivity for those in extreme poverty through a multi-arm field experiment with a sample of 7,330 households. It identifies barriers to exiting poverty through random assignment of anti-poverty asset transfer and training program intervention components, as well as cognitive-behavioral therapy. In particular, EP examines the link between psychological distress and poverty from two perspectives. First, it investigates the interaction between improvements in mental health and the ability of households to take advantage of new opportunities; and, second, it measures the effect of sustained coaching on the return to the asset grant. The results will inform social protection policy design. The study will shed light on the role of mental health in shaping the success of “economic” interventions. During the summer of 2020, a phone survey will be conducted to explore how participants are faring following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the extent to which EP treatments increased households’ resilience against the backdrop of a public health crisis and accompanying economic strain.

Partners

Northwestern University

Impact Goals

  • Build resilience and protect the financial health of families and individuals
  • Build resilient and adaptable businesses and employment opportunities
  • Improve social-safety net responses
  • Improve women’s health, safety, and economic empowerment
  • Keep children safe, healthy, and learning

Project Data Collection Mode

  • CATI (Computer-assisted telephone interviewing)

Results Status

No Results Yet