Details about Benjamin Olken

Access statistics for papers by Benjamin Olken.

Last updated 2023-03-16. Update your information in the RePEc Author Service.

Short-id: pol170

Working Papers

2025

1. Community Targeting at Scale
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

2024

2. Social Protection in the Developing World
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (3)
3. Willingness-To-Pay vs Administrative Hurdles: Understanding Barriers to Social Insurance Enrollment in Thailand
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc

2023

4. Optimal Public Transportation Networks: Evidence from the World's Largest Bus Rapid Transit System in Jakarta
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc
5. The Economics of Tropical Deforestation
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (3)
6. The Marginal Disutility from Corruption in Social Programs: Evidence from Program Administrators and Beneficiaries
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (1)

2022

7. The Impact of Large-Scale Social Media Advertising Campaigns on COVID-19 Vaccination: Evidence from Two Randomized Controlled Trials
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (2)

2021

8. Doctors' and Nurses' Social Media Ads Reduced Holiday Travel and COVID-19 Infections: A Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (3)
9. Food vs. Food Stamps: Evidence from an At-Scale Experiment in Indonesia
   NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (5)

2020

10. In Praise of Moderation: Suggestions for the Scope and Use of Pre-Analysis Plans for RCTs in Economics
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (29)
11. Messages on COVID-19 Prevention in India Increased Symptoms Reporting and Adherence to Preventive Behaviors Among 25 Million Recipients with Similar Effects on Non-recipient Members of Their Communities
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (38)
12. The challenges of universal health insurance in developing countries: Evidence from a large-scale randomized experiment in Indonesia
    The Warwick Economics Research Paper Series (TWERPS), University of Warwick, Department of Economics
    Also in CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2019) View citations (5)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2019) View citations (5)

2019

13. Making moves matter: experimental evidence on incentivizing bureaucrats through performance-based postings
    LSE Research Online Documents on Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library View citations (32)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2018) View citations (4)
    See also Journal Article Making Moves Matter: Experimental Evidence on Incentivizing Bureaucrats through Performance-Based Postings, American Economic Review, American Economic Association (2019) View citations (37) (2019)
14. Tax Administration vs. Tax Rates: Evidence from Corporate Taxation in Indonesia
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (12)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2019) View citations (14)
15. When Celebrities Speak: A Nationwide Twitter Experiment Promoting Vaccination In Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (28)

2018

16. Cumulative Impacts of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs: Experimental Evidence from Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (25)
    See also Journal Article Cumulative Impacts of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs: Experimental Evidence from Indonesia, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association (2020) View citations (43) (2020)
17. The (Lack of) Distortionary Effects of Proxy-Means Tests: Results from a Nationwide Experiment in Indonesia
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (9)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2018) View citations (8)
18. Universal Basic Incomes vs. Targeted Transfers: Anti-Poverty Programs in Developing Countries
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (60)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2018) View citations (23)
19. Wilderness Conservation and the Reach of the State: Evidence from National Borders in the Amazon
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (11)

2017

20. Citywide Effects of High-Occupancy Vehicle Restrictions: Evidence from the Elimination of ‘3-in-1’ in Jakarta
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (17)
    Also in Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2016)
21. Contracting out the Last-Mile of Service Delivery: Subsidized Food Distribution in Indonesia
    CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2015) View citations (3)
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2016) View citations (2)
22. The Development Effects of the Extractive Colonial Economy: The Dutch Cultivation System in Java
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (13)
    See also Journal Article The Development Effects of the Extractive Colonial Economy: The Dutch Cultivation System in Java, The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd (2020) View citations (59) (2020)

2016

23. Making Moves Matter: Experimental Evidence on Incentivizing Bureaucrats through Performance-Based Transfers
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (1)
24. Tax farming redux: experimental evidence on performance pay for tax collectors
    LSE Research Online Documents on Economics, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library View citations (79)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2014) View citations (14)
    See also Journal Article Tax Farming Redux: Experimental Evidence on Performance Pay for Tax Collectors, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College (2016) View citations (85) (2016)

2015

25. Debunking the Stereotype of the Lazy Welfare Recipient
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (12)
26. Debunking the Stereotype of the Lazy Welfare Recipient: Evidence from Cash Transfer Programs Worldwide
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (28)
27. The Personnel Economics of the State
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (46)
28. The Power of Transparency: Information, Identification Cards and Food Subsidy Programs in Indonesia
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University View citations (6)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2015) View citations (6)
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2015) View citations (6)

2014

29. Can Electronic Procurement Improve Infrastructure Provision? Evidence From Public Works in India and Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (14)
    See also Journal Article Can Electronic Procurement Improve Infrastructure Provision? Evidence from Public Works in India and Indonesia, American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, American Economic Association (2016) View citations (73) (2016)
30. The Missing "Missing Middle"
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (94)
    See also Journal Article The Missing "Missing Middle", Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association (2014) View citations (105) (2014)

2013

31. Does Economic Growth Reduce Corruption? Theory and Evidence from Vietnam
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (31)
    Also in CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers (2013) View citations (28)
32. Does Elite Capture Matter? Local Elites and Targeted Welfare Programs in Indonesia
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government View citations (33)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2013) View citations (35)
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2013) View citations (26)
    See also Journal Article Does Elite Capture Matter? Local Elites and Targeted Welfare Programs in Indonesia, AEA Papers and Proceedings, American Economic Association (2019) View citations (33) (2019)
33. Ordeal Mechanisms In Targeting: Theory And Evidence From A Field Experiment In Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (12)
    Also in CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2012) View citations (24)
34. What Do We Learn from the Weather? The New Climate-Economy Literature
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (35)
    See also Journal Article What Do We Learn from the Weather? The New Climate-Economy Literature, Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association (2014) View citations (1105) (2014)

2012

35. Network Structure and the Aggregation of Information: Theory and Evidence from Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (18)
    Also in Scholarly Articles, Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2012) View citations (21)
    Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2012) View citations (18)
    CID Working Papers, Center for International Development at Harvard University (2012) View citations (5)
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences (2012) View citations (17)
    See also Journal Article Network Structure and the Aggregation of Information: Theory and Evidence from Indonesia, American Economic Review, American Economic Association (2016) View citations (55) (2016)
36. Should Aid Reward Performance? Evidence from a Field Experiment on Health and Education in Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (11)
37. The Political Economy of Deforestation in the Tropics
    CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers View citations (201)
    Also in Working Papers, eSocialSciences (2012) View citations (162)
    GRI Working Papers, Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment (2012) View citations (200)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2011) View citations (17)
    STICERD - Economic Organisation and Public Policy Discussion Papers Series, Suntory and Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines, LSE (2012) View citations (201)
    See also Journal Article The Political Economy of Deforestation in the Tropics, The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College (2012) View citations (203) (2012)

2011

38. Corruption in Developing Countries
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (39)
    See also Journal Article Corruption in Developing Countries, Annual Review of Economics, Annual Reviews (2012) View citations (300) (2012)
39. Informal Taxation
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard Kennedy School of Government View citations (7)
    Also in Working Paper Series, Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Government (2009) View citations (9)
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2009) View citations (4)
    Scholarly Articles, Harvard Kennedy School of Government (2009) View citations (4)
    See also Journal Article Informal Taxation, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association (2011) View citations (23) (2011)

2010

40. Climate Shocks and Exports
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (156)
    See also Journal Article Climate Shocks and Exports, American Economic Review, American Economic Association (2010) View citations (155) (2010)
41. Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (15)
    See also Journal Article Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia, American Economic Review, American Economic Association (2012) View citations (192) (2012)

2009

42. Temperature and Income: Reconciling New Cross-Sectional and Panel Estimates
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (282)
    See also Journal Article Temperature and Income: Reconciling New Cross-Sectional and Panel Estimates, American Economic Review, American Economic Association (2009) View citations (281) (2009)

2008

43. Climate Change and Economic Growth: Evidence from the Last Half Century
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (140)
44. Direct Democracy and Local Public Goods: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (14)
    See also Journal Article Direct Democracy and Local Public Goods: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia, American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press (2010) View citations (113) (2010)

2007

45. Corruption Perceptions vs. Corruption Reality
    CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers View citations (3)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2006) View citations (28)
    Natural Field Experiments, The Field Experiments Website (2006) View citations (27)
    See also Journal Article Corruption perceptions vs. corruption reality, Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier (2009) View citations (250) (2009)
46. Hit or Miss? The Effect of Assassinations on Institutions and War
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (11)
    Also in CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers (2007) View citations (6)
    See also Journal Article Hit or Miss? The Effect of Assassinations on Institutions and War, American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, American Economic Association (2009) View citations (67) (2009)
47. The Simple Economics of Extortion: Evidence from Trucking in Aceh
    CEPR Discussion Papers, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers View citations (13)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2007) View citations (24)
    See also Journal Article The Simple Economics of Extortion: Evidence from Trucking in Aceh, Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press (2009) View citations (145) (2009)

2006

48. Do Television and Radio Destroy Social Capital? Evidence from Indonesian Villages
    Working Papers, eSocialSciences View citations (25)
    Also in NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc (2006) View citations (27)
    See also Journal Article Do Television and Radio Destroy Social Capital? Evidence from Indonesian Villages, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association (2009) View citations (190) (2009)

2005

49. Monitoring Corruption: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (57)
    Also in Natural Field Experiments, The Field Experiments Website (2005) View citations (46)
    See also Journal Article Monitoring Corruption: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia, Journal of Political Economy, University of Chicago Press (2007) View citations (653) (2007)
50. The Anatomy of Start-Stop Growth
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (46)
    See also Journal Article The Anatomy of Start-Stop Growth, The Review of Economics and Statistics, MIT Press (2008) View citations (140) (2008)

2001

51. A Biological Model of Unions
    NBER Working Papers, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc View citations (3)
    See also Journal Article A Biological Model of Unions, American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association (2009) View citations (1) (2009)

Journal Articles

2020

1. Banerjee, Duflo, Kremer, and the Rise of Modern Development Economics
   Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 2020, 122, (3), 853-878 View citations (1)
2. Cumulative Impacts of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs: Experimental Evidence from Indonesia
   American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2020, 12, (4), 88-110 View citations (43)
   See also Working Paper Cumulative Impacts of Conditional Cash Transfer Programs: Experimental Evidence from Indonesia, NBER Working Papers (2018) View citations (25) (2018)
3. The Development Effects of the Extractive Colonial Economy: The Dutch Cultivation System in Java
   The Review of Economic Studies, 2020, 87, (1), 164-203 View citations (59)
   See also Working Paper The Development Effects of the Extractive Colonial Economy: The Dutch Cultivation System in Java, NBER Working Papers (2017) View citations (13) (2017)

2019

4. Designing Anti-Poverty Programs in Emerging Economies in the 21st Century: Lessons from Indonesia for the World
   Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, 2019, 55, (3), 319-339 View citations (2)
5. Does Elite Capture Matter? Local Elites and Targeted Welfare Programs in Indonesia
   AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2019, 109, 334-39 View citations (33)
   See also Working Paper Does Elite Capture Matter? Local Elites and Targeted Welfare Programs in Indonesia, Working Paper Series (2013) View citations (33) (2013)
6. Firm Growth and Corruption: Empirical Evidence from Vietnam
   The Economic Journal, 2019, 129, (618), 651-677 View citations (47)
7. Making Moves Matter: Experimental Evidence on Incentivizing Bureaucrats through Performance-Based Postings
   American Economic Review, 2019, 109, (1), 237-70 View citations (37)
   See also Working Paper Making moves matter: experimental evidence on incentivizing bureaucrats through performance-based postings, LSE Research Online Documents on Economics (2019) View citations (32) (2019)
8. Private Outsourcing and Competition: Subsidized Food Distribution in Indonesia
   Journal of Political Economy, 2019, 127, (1), 101 - 137 View citations (15)

2018

9. Tangible Information and Citizen Empowerment: Identification Cards and Food Subsidy Programs in Indonesia
   Journal of Political Economy, 2018, 126, (2), 451 - 491 View citations (54)
10. Universal Basic Incomes versus Targeted Transfers: Anti-Poverty Programs in Developing Countries
    Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2018, 32, (4), 201-26 View citations (99)

2017

11. Debunking the Stereotype of the Lazy Welfare Recipient: Evidence from Cash Transfer Programs
    The World Bank Research Observer, 2017, 32, (2), 155-184 View citations (117)

2016

12. Can Electronic Procurement Improve Infrastructure Provision? Evidence from Public Works in India and Indonesia
    American Economic Journal: Economic Policy, 2016, 8, (3), 258-83 View citations (73)
    See also Working Paper Can Electronic Procurement Improve Infrastructure Provision? Evidence From Public Works in India and Indonesia, NBER Working Papers (2014) View citations (14) (2014)
13. Network Structure and the Aggregation of Information: Theory and Evidence from Indonesia
    American Economic Review, 2016, 106, (7), 1663-1704 View citations (55)
    See also Working Paper Network Structure and the Aggregation of Information: Theory and Evidence from Indonesia, NBER Working Papers (2012) View citations (18) (2012)
14. Self-Targeting: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    Journal of Political Economy, 2016, 124, (2), 371 - 427 View citations (62)
15. Tax Farming Redux: Experimental Evidence on Performance Pay for Tax Collectors
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2016, 131, (1), 219-271 View citations (85)
    See also Working Paper Tax farming redux: experimental evidence on performance pay for tax collectors, LSE Research Online Documents on Economics (2016) View citations (79) (2016)

2015

16. Promises and Perils of Pre-analysis Plans
    Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2015, 29, (3), 61-80 View citations (105)

2014

17. The Missing "Missing Middle"
    Journal of Economic Perspectives, 2014, 28, (3), 89-108 View citations (105)
    See also Working Paper The Missing "Missing Middle", NBER Working Papers (2014) View citations (94) (2014)
18. What Do We Learn from the Weather? The New Climate-Economy Literature
    Journal of Economic Literature, 2014, 52, (3), 740-98 View citations (1105)
    See also Working Paper What Do We Learn from the Weather? The New Climate-Economy Literature, NBER Working Papers (2013) View citations (35) (2013)

2012

19. Corruption in Developing Countries
    Annual Review of Economics, 2012, 4, (1), 479-509 View citations (300)
    See also Working Paper Corruption in Developing Countries, NBER Working Papers (2011) View citations (39) (2011)
20. Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    American Economic Review, 2012, 102, (4), 1206-40 View citations (192)
    See also Working Paper Targeting the Poor: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia, NBER Working Papers (2010) View citations (15) (2010)
21. Temperature Shocks and Economic Growth: Evidence from the Last Half Century
    American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 2012, 4, (3), 66-95 View citations (1076)
22. The Political Economy of Deforestation in the Tropics
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2012, 127, (4), 1707-1754 View citations (203)
    See also Working Paper The Political Economy of Deforestation in the Tropics, CEPR Discussion Papers (2012) View citations (201) (2012)

2011

23. Informal Taxation
    American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2011, 3, (4), 1-28 View citations (23)
    See also Working Paper Informal Taxation, Scholarly Articles (2011) View citations (7) (2011)

2010

24. Climate Shocks and Exports
    American Economic Review, 2010, 100, (2), 454-59 View citations (155)
    See also Working Paper Climate Shocks and Exports, NBER Working Papers (2010) View citations (156) (2010)
25. Direct Democracy and Local Public Goods: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    American Political Science Review, 2010, 104, (2), 243-267 View citations (113)
    See also Working Paper Direct Democracy and Local Public Goods: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia, NBER Working Papers (2008) View citations (14) (2008)

2009

26. A Biological Model of Unions
    American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2009, 1, (2), 150-75 View citations (1)
    See also Working Paper A Biological Model of Unions, NBER Working Papers (2001) View citations (3) (2001)
27. Corruption perceptions vs. corruption reality
    Journal of Public Economics, 2009, 93, (7-8), 950-964 View citations (250)
    See also Working Paper Corruption Perceptions vs. Corruption Reality, CEPR Discussion Papers (2007) View citations (3) (2007)
28. Do Television and Radio Destroy Social Capital? Evidence from Indonesian Villages
    American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, 2009, 1, (4), 1-33 View citations (190)
    See also Working Paper Do Television and Radio Destroy Social Capital? Evidence from Indonesian Villages, Working Papers (2006) View citations (25) (2006)
29. Hit or Miss? The Effect of Assassinations on Institutions and War
    American Economic Journal: Macroeconomics, 2009, 1, (2), 55-87 View citations (67)
    See also Working Paper Hit or Miss? The Effect of Assassinations on Institutions and War, NBER Working Papers (2007) View citations (11) (2007)
30. Temperature and Income: Reconciling New Cross-Sectional and Panel Estimates
    American Economic Review, 2009, 99, (2), 198-204 View citations (281)
    See also Working Paper Temperature and Income: Reconciling New Cross-Sectional and Panel Estimates, NBER Working Papers (2009) View citations (282) (2009)
31. The Simple Economics of Extortion: Evidence from Trucking in Aceh
    Journal of Political Economy, 2009, 117, (3), 417-452 View citations (145)
    See also Working Paper The Simple Economics of Extortion: Evidence from Trucking in Aceh, CEPR Discussion Papers (2007) View citations (13) (2007)

2008

32. The Anatomy of Start-Stop Growth
    The Review of Economics and Statistics, 2008, 90, (3), 582-587 View citations (140)
    See also Working Paper The Anatomy of Start-Stop Growth, NBER Working Papers (2005) View citations (46) (2005)

2007

33. Monitoring Corruption: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia
    Journal of Political Economy, 2007, 115, (2), 200-249 View citations (653)
    See also Working Paper Monitoring Corruption: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Indonesia, NBER Working Papers (2005) View citations (57) (2005)

2006

34. Corruption and the costs of redistribution: Micro evidence from Indonesia
    Journal of Public Economics, 2006, 90, (4-5), 853-870 View citations (170)

2005

35. Do Leaders Matter? National Leadership and Growth Since World War II
    The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 2005, 120, (3), 835-864 View citations (637)
36. Revealed community equivalence scales
    Journal of Public Economics, 2005, 89, (2-3), 545-566 View citations (20)