Evaluating anti-poverty programs

Martin Ravallion ()

No 3625, Policy Research Working Paper Series from The World Bank

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.

Keywords: Poverty Monitoring&Analysis; Rural Poverty Reduction; Scientific Research&Science Parks; Science Education; Poverty Impact Evaluation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-dev and nep-ltv
Date: 2005-06-01
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Chapter: Evaluating Anti-Poverty Programs (2008)
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