Publication: Evaluating Anti-Poverty Programs
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Date
2005-06
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Published
2005-06
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Abstract
The author critically reviews the methods available for the ex-post counterfactual analysis of programs that are assigned exclusively to individuals, households, or locations. The discussion covers both experimental and non-experimental methods (including propensity-score matching, discontinuity designs, double and triple differences, and instrumental variables). Two main lessons emerge. First, despite the claims of advocates, no single method dominates; rigorous, policy-relevant evaluations should be open-minded about methodology. Second, future efforts to draw more useful lessons from evaluations will call for more policy-relevant measures and deeper explanations of measured impacts than are possible from the classic ("black box") assessment of mean impact.
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“Ravallion, Martin. 2005. Evaluating Anti-Poverty Programs. Policy Research Working Paper; No. 3625. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/8341 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.”
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