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On the analogy between field experiments in economics and clinical trials in medicine

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  • Judith Favereau

Abstract

Randomized experiments, as developed by Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee at the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), offer a novel, evidence-based approach to fighting poverty. This approach is original, in that it imports the methodology of clinical trials for application in development economics. This paper examines the analogy between J-PAL’s field experiments in development economics and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in medicine. RCTs and randomized field experiments are commonly treated as identical, but such treatment neglects some of the major distinguishing features that make each experiment specifically apt for use in its respective field. The central claim of this paper is that the analogy between medicine and development economics is incomplete because the central dimensions of RCTs are not simply different but altogether lacking in J-PAL’s approach. This weakens both the political and the theoretical power of such experiments in development economics.

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  • Judith Favereau, 2016. "On the analogy between field experiments in economics and clinical trials in medicine," Journal of Economic Methodology, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(2), pages 203-222, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jecmet:v:23:y:2016:i:2:p:203-222
    DOI: 10.1080/1350178X.2016.1157202
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    Cited by:

    1. Juan Pablo Castilla, 2020. "To Kill a Black Swan: The Credibility Revolution at CEDE, 2000-2018," Documentos CEDE 18366, Universidad de los Andes, Facultad de Economía, CEDE.
    2. Ali, Saleem H., 2020. "Environmental urgency versus the allure of RCT empiricism," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    3. María Caamaño-Alegre & José Caamaño-Alegre, 2019. "Economic experiments versus physical science experiments: an ontology-based approach," The Journal of Philosophical Economics, Bucharest Academy of Economic Studies, The Journal of Philosophical Economics, vol. 12(2), pages 1-30, May.
    4. Yokoo, Hide-Fumi & 横尾, 英史, 2020. "Ethics of randomized field experiments: Evidence from a randomized survey experiment," Discussion Papers 2020-07, Graduate School of Economics, Hitotsubashi University.

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