AEM 6125 - Impact Evaluation in Developing Countries

Spring. 3 credits. Letter grades only (no audit).

Prerequisite: graduate level statistics or econometrics.

M. Constas.

Significant resources are regularly dedicated to programs and policies aimed at improving the well-being of the world’s poor. With what degree of confidence can observed changes in an outcome be attributed to a given intervention, program or policy? What are the characteristics of evaluation designs, quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, and analyses that allow plausible cause and effect attributions to be made? The purpose of the class in impact evaluation is to explore how questions of this kind are framed and empirically investigated. Students will learn about impact evaluation by examining evaluation designs and causal modeling techniques and by performing fundamental evaluation tasks. As an application activity, the class will work directly with individuals in agencies who administer and evaluate programs in developing countries.

Outcome 1: Understand and be able to explain the basic aims of evaluation and recognize the specific objectives served by impact evaluation.

Outcome 2: Understand and be able to explain way in which impact evaluation is based on a set of theoretical propositions on the nature and demands of causal inference.

Outcome 3: Understand and critically assess different types of designs that are used to produce plausible counterfactuals.

Outcome 4: Develop and demonstrate the ability to apply knowledge of impact evaluation to design an evaluation proposal for an actual intervention.