Published on Development Impact

Weekly links Jan 17, 2025: get up to speed with new literature, AI virtual tutors, P4R in practice, and more…

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Young boxers at the White Collars Boxing Match 2019, taken by Mariajose Silva Vargas

·       Once we get through job talks and other demands at this time of the year, the videos of the AEA recent developments lecture series look good- free 2 hour online lectures to help get up to speed on recent topics like John List on experiments, Nick Bloom on the future of working from home, Guido Imbens on estimating causal effects with panel data, Isaiah Andrews on econometrics for transparency and communication, and Abi Adams on recent developments on gender, violence and harassment are all likely to be of interest to our readers (there are also macro and urban lectures). There are also webcasts available of select sessions, including one on experimental methods, and one on publishing.

·       On the World Bank’s education blog, Martin de Simone and co-authors summarize the preliminary results from a pilot of a program that used generative AI as a virtual tutor in Nigeria -finding large learning gains from just 6 weeks of the program.

·       Here is the final report of an innovative attempt to use evidence in a pay-for-results approach to reducing recidivism and increase employment for young men at high risk of reoffending in Massachusetts. John Arnold summarizes it in these tweets “Rather than the state paying for an experimental program, or it being fully funded by philanthropy, Third Sector created a novel structure:

1) Govt contracts with a service provider and defines the outcome of interest

2) Socially minded investors fund the program delivery

3) An independent researcher conducts an RCT to determine if the program improved outcomes

4) Government will reimburse the funders including a modest return if the program creates actual long-term financial savings for the state”

The report notes several challenges faced, including changes in sentencing laws and COVID, and that the RCT results did not find significant impacts, although the study ended up underpowered. The government did not end up making any success payments. An interesting case study of some of the innovation and challenges that can happen with this funding model.

·       ​The World Bank Research Observer (WBRO) seeks to publish policy relevant surveys of development issues, aimed at a broad audience including non-specialists. Papers for consideration at the Spring 2025 meeting of the WBRO Editorial Board should be submitted online to https://academic.oup.com/wbro  no later than Friday, March 14, 2025.

·       Funding calls:

o    The STEG and the G²LM|LIC Programme are excited to announce that both programmes now invite submissions of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for a joint call for research proposals. The call is motivated by the need for a better understanding of the changing nature of work and women’s involvement in this change, with a particular focus on Ethiopia, Kenya and Nigeria. There is both a macro and micro stream of work they will fund. See here for more details, with EOIs due Feb 11.

o   The Strategic Impact Evaluation Fund has published its seventh competitive call for proposals on using technology to advance skill development among vulnerable children, adolescents, and youth. Researchers should apply if they seek funding for evaluations focused on using technology to accelerate learning for (i) children, adolescents, or youth with special educational needs or disabilities;  (ii) children, adolescents, or youth who have been displaced from their homes or who are living in contexts characterized by fragility, violence, or conflict; or (iii) children, adolescents, or youth exposed to climate hazards. The deadline for first-stage applications is February 10, 2025. 


David McKenzie

Lead Economist, Development Research Group, World Bank

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