F1ID 5110 - Advanced Policy Evaluation (NEW)

This advanced course on impact evaluation will cover the common tools of impact evaluation – how to use them, their assumptions and limitations, and how to interpret their results – to provide solid foundations for evidence-based development policymaking. We will cover a variety of evaluation designs, both experimental and non-experimental, including RCTs, difference-in-differences, instrumental variables, and regression discontinuity designs. We will do so via recent example applications to concrete policy questions regarding the poverty in developing countries and the barriers to economic development. Students will learn how to critically interpret quantitative evidence and will work in groups to present a research paper and undertake data analysis within a policy evaluation project.

Learning Outcomes

• An understanding and knowledge of the core concepts of impact evaluation
• The ability to critically review, summarize, and present findings from impact evaluations and research papers in development economics
• Familiarity with tools for data analysis and initial experience in using them for policy evaluation

Professional Skills

Analytical skills, critical reading of policy evidence, presenting quantitative impact evaluations, data analysis

The class is in part a more technical exploration of material covered in “F1ID 4110 - Impact Evaluation” and “F1ID 5030 - Evaluating Human Capital Policies: Experimental Methodology and Evidence”. Students must have taken one of those classes. Ideally, students will also have previously taken a class in statistics or econometrics, and will have some familiarity with a statistical software package such as Stata or R.

• General feedback will be provided to students after the test, at the beginning of the following class.
• Feedback on oral presentations of research papers will be provided right after group presentations, during class time.
• Written feedback will be provided for the group project.

• Mid-term exam: multiple choice questions with justification: 40% of the final mark
• In-class group presentation of a research paper: 15% of the final mark
• Group Policy Evaluation Project: 45% of final mark.
• One-Pager to be prepared at home and submitted mid-term 15%
• In-class presentation at the end of the term 15%
• Final technical report to be handed over at the end of the term 15%

• Attendance: 2 hours a week / 24 hours a semester
• Reading and Preparation for Class: 5 hours a week / 60 hours a semester
• Research and Preparation for Group Work: 5 hours a week / 60 hours a semester