RCTs in the long run

VoxDevTalk

Published 20.11.19

RCTs have revolutionised development policy, but do the interventions that work in the short run have a benefit 10 or 20 years later?

Randomised controlled trials have taught development economists a lot about the short-run effects of interventions. But a generation after some of the most exciting trials, we know surpisingly little about their long-run effects. Ted Miguel discusses what we have learnt about long-run impact, and suggests which RCTs might be ready for another look and how we might go about this.

Editors' note: This interview first appeared on VoxEU.