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Methodology

Randomized Experiments in Microfinance

Examines the mechanics, merits and limitations of randomized experiments in microfinance.

Type: Brief
Date: May 2009
Authors: Jonathan Bauchet, Aparna Dalal
Country: Global
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Research Methodology

Measuring Microenterprise Profits: Must we ask how the sausage is made?

Reports on a variety of experiments conducted to better understand the importance of some of the problems of measuring profits, and offers recommendations for collecting profit data.

Date: January 2009
Authors: David McKenzie, Christopher Woodruff, Suresh de Mel
Country: Sri Lanka
Themes: Financial Literacy, Research Methodology

Adaptive Experimental Design using the Propensity Score

Type: Paper
Date: April 2008
Authors: Dean Karlan, Jinyong Hahn, Keisuke Hi
Country: Global
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Research Methodology

Randomized Trials for Strategic Innovation in Retail Finance

Type: Framing Note
Date: January 2008
Authors: Nathanael Goldberg, Dean Karlan, Jonathan Zinman
Country: Global
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Credit, Research Methodology

Expanding Credit Access: Improving Microfinance Operations and Measuring Impact with Credit Scoring

Examines how credit scoring can be used to improve microfinance operations and expand access for poor households.

Type: Framing Note
Date: December 2007
Authors: Dean Karlan, Jonathan Zinman
Country: South Africa
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Credit

Optimizing Loan Contracting and Marketing Strategies Using Field Experimentation (prepared for the 2006 Microcredit Summit)

Type: Paper
Date: November 2006
Authors: Dean Karlan, Jonathan Zinman
Country: Global, Global
Research Areas: Mechanisms Matter
Themes: Credit, Interest Rates, Marketing

The Impact of Microfinance: A Review of Methodological Issues

Reviews design considerations of various research methodologies for impact evaluations.

Type: Framing Note
Date: August 2006
Authors: Nathanael Goldberg, Dean Karlan
Country: Global
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Research Methodology

Evaluating Microfinance Program Innovation with Randomized Control Trials: An Example from Group versus Individual Lending

Presents an application of the randomized control trial methodology to evaluate modifications in the design of microcredit programs.

Type: Paper
Date: March 2006
Authors: Xavier Giné, Tomoko Harigaya, Dean Karlan, Binh Nguyen
Country: Philippines
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Product Design

Using Experimental Economics to Measure Social Capital and Predict Financial Decisions

Tests the characteristics of two-player trust games with borrowers in a Peruvian microcredit program.

Type: Paper
Date: July 2005
Authors: Dean Karlan
Country: Peru
Research Areas: Mechanisms Matter
Themes: Research Methodology

Testing Savings Product Innovations Using an Experimental Methodology

Advocates a rigorous, scientific approach to the evaluation of innovations in micro-savings products.

Type: Paper
Date: November 2003
Authors: Nava Ashraf, Dean Karlan, Wesley Yin
Country: Philippines
Research Areas: Mechanisms Matter
Themes: Savings

Microfinance Impact Assessments: The Perils of Using New Members as a Control Group

Suggests a method to address attrition biases when conducting cross-sectional impact assessments between veteran and new program participants.

Type: Paper
Date: December 2001
Authors: Dean Karlan
Country: Global, Global
Research Areas: Measuring Impact
Themes: Research Methodology
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