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Discussion Paper Details

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Title: Using RCTs to Estimate Long-Run Impacts in Development Economics

Author(s): Adrien Bougen, Yue Huang, Michael Kremer and Edward Miguel

Publication Date: January 2019

Keyword(s): cash transfers, child health, development economics, long-run impacts, panel (longitudinal) data and randomized controlled trials

Programme Area(s): Development Economics

Abstract: We assess evidence from randomized control trials (RCTs) on long-run economic productivity and living standards in poor countries. We first document that several studies estimate large positive long-run impacts, but that relatively few existing RCTs have been evaluated over the long-run. We next present evidence from a systematic survey of existing RCTs, with a focus on cash transfer and child health programs, and show that a meaningful subset can realistically be evaluated for long-run effects. We discuss ways to bridge the gap between the burgeoning number of development RCTs and the limited number that have been followed up to date, including through new panel (longitudinal) data, improved participant tracking methods, alternative research designs, and access to administrative, remote sensing, and cell phone data. We conclude that the rise of development economics RCTs since roughly 2000 provides a novel opportunity to generate high-quality evidence on the long-run drivers of living standards.

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Bibliographic Reference

Bougen, A, Huang, Y, Kremer, M and Miguel, E. 2019. 'Using RCTs to Estimate Long-Run Impacts in Development Economics'. London, Centre for Economic Policy Research. https://cepr.org/active/publications/discussion_papers/dp.php?dpno=13443