Evaluating Anti-Poverty Programs

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.

Bibliographic Details

Main Author:	Ravallion, Martin
Format:	Policy Research Working Paper biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	World Bank, Washington, DC 2005-06
Subjects:	ACTIVE LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS, AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY, AID DONORS, ANTI-POVERTY, ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS, CASH TRANSFERS, CHILD MORTALITY, CHILD NUTRITION, COMPARISON GROUPS, CONSUMPTION EXPENDITURES, CONTROL GROUPS, COUNTERFACTUAL, COUNTERFACTUALS, DATA COLLECTION, DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, DIFFERENCE ESTIMATORS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, EGS, EMPLOYMENT GUARANTEE SCHEME, EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS, EVALUATION DESIGN, EVALUATION METHODS, EVALUATORS, EXPERIMENTS, FARM ACTIVITIES, FARMERS, FIELD WORK, FINANCIAL SUPPORT, FLEXIBILITY, FOOD CONSUMPTION, GDP, HEADCOUNT INDEX, HOUSEHOLD INCOME, HOUSEHOLD SIZE, HOUSEHOLD SURVEY, HOUSEHOLD SURVEY DATA, IMPACT ASSESSMENT, IMPACT EVALUATION, IMPACT ON POVERTY, IMPACTS ON POVERTY, INCIDENCE OF POVERTY, INCOME, INCOME GAINS, INEQUALITY, INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS, INSTRUMENTAL VARIABLES, INSURANCE, INTERVENTION, INTERVENTIONS, INTERVIEWS, LABOR MARKET PROGRAMS, LABOR MARKETS, LANDLESS HOUSEHOLDS, LIVING STANDARDS, LONGITUDINAL DATA, MEASURES OF POVERTY, MINIMUM INCOME, MODELING, MONITORING DATA, NONEXPERIMENTAL METHODS, NUTRITION, NUTRITIONAL STATUS, OUTCOME INDICATORS, POOR, POOR AREAS, POOR COUNTRIES, POOR FAMILIES, POOR INFRASTRUCTURE, POOR PEOPLE, POVERTY DYNAMICS, POVERTY IMPACTS, POVERTY INCIDENCE, POVERTY LINE, POVERTY LINES, POVERTY MEASURES, PROGRAM COVERAGE, PROGRAM EXPANSION, PROGRAMS, PROJECT MONITORING, PUBLIC SPENDING, QUANTITATIVE SURVEYS, RESEARCH WORKING PAPERS, RURAL, RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE, RURAL ROAD, RURAL ROADS, SANITATION, SELECTION BIAS, SIMULATION, SIMULATION METHODS, SIMULATIONS, SOCIAL EXPERIMENTS, SOCIAL FUNDS, SOCIAL SPENDING, SPECIFICATION TESTS, SURVEY DATA, SURVEY DESIGN, TARGETING, TRAINING PROGRAMS, TREATMENT EFFECTS, VALIDITY, WAGES, WEIGHTING,
Online Access:	http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2005/06/8962410/evaluating-anti-poverty-programs http://hdl.handle.net/10986/8341
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