Randomized Control Trials in the Field of Development A Critical Perspective

Randomized Control Trials in the Field of Development A Critical Perspective

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In October 2019, Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer jointly won the 51st Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty." But what is the exact scope of their experimental method, known a...

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Bibliographic Details
Other Authors: Bédécarrats, Florent (Editor), Guérin, Isabelle (Editor), Roubaud, François (Editor)
Format: Electronic Book Chapter
Language:English
Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 2020
Subjects:
Development economics & emerging economies
Economic theory & philosophy
Econometrics
Health economics
Development economics, Research ethics, Evidence-based policy, Impact evaluation, Global health, Microcredit, Political economy, Qualitative methods, Randomized controlled trials, Sanitation
Online Access:DOAB: download the publication
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Summary:In October 2019, Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer jointly won the 51st Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty." But what is the exact scope of their experimental method, known as randomized control trials (RCTs)? Which sorts of questions are RCTs able to address and which do they fail to answer? This book provides answers to these questions, explaining how RCTs work, what they can achieve, why they sometimes fail, how they can be improved and why other methods are both useful and necessary. Chapters contributed by leading specialists in the field present a full and coherent picture of the main strengths and weaknesses of RCTs in the field of development. Looking beyond the epistemological, political, and ethical differences underlying many of the disagreements surrounding RCTs, it explores the implementation of RCTs on the ground, outside of their ideal theoretical conditions and reveals some unsuspected uses and effects, their disruptive potential, but also their political uses. The contributions uncover the implicit worldview that many RCTs draw on and disseminate, and probe the gap between the method's narrow scope and its success, while also proposing improvements and alternatives. This book warns against the potential dangers of their excessive use, arguing that the best use for RCTs is not necessarily that which immediately springs to mind, and offering opportunity to come to an informed and reasoned judgement on RCTs and what they can bring to development.
Physical Description:1 electronic resource (442 p.)
ISBN:oso/9780198865360.001.0001
Access:Open Access

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