New IPA Sierra Leone Reconciliation Research, Washington Post Monkey Cage
Media Coverage
May 13, 2016

In the Washington Post's Monkey Cage blog, Rachel Glennerster reviews what we know about how societies recover after war in light of IPA's new findings. She covers the new research, and why it's critical to understand how to heal societies after war.
Reuters on IPA's new Sierra Leone Reconciliation Research
Media Coverage
May 13, 2016

Reuters reports on the new research from IPA in Sierra Leone on community reconciliation after war came at a cost:

While forgiveness toward perpetrators increased, the prevalence of severe trauma among the participants was more than a third higher than among those who didn't take part in the project, said the study, published in the journal Science.
Pacific Standard on IPA war reconciliation research
Media Coverage
May 13, 2016

Pacific Standard  covers IPA's research on the benefits and tolls of post-war reconciliation in Sierra Leone.
Voice of America: Study Finds Reconciliation Programs Can Rekindle Victims' Trauma
Media Coverage
May 13, 2016

Voice of America interviews IPA researcher Oeindrila Dube about the new research from Sierra Leone in Science and its implications for the design of post-war reconciliation programs. The story also appeared in the New Delhi Times.
Post-conflict reconciliation led to societal healing, but worsened psychological health, new study finds
Press Release
May 12, 2016

NEW HAVEN, May 13, 2016 — Civil wars divide nations along social, economic and political lines, often pitting neighbors against each other. In the aftermath of civil wars, many countries undertake truth and reconciliation efforts to restore social cohesion, but little has been known about whether these programs reach their intended goals. A new study published in Science today suggests reconciliation programs promote societal healing, but that these gains come at the cost of reduced psychological health, worsening depression, anxiety, and trauma. 

“Our research suggests that talking...
IPA Sierra Leone reconciliation project on NPR's Hidden Brain
Media Coverage
January 29, 2016

NPR's Hidden Brain podcast featured IPA Sierra Leone's project on reconciliation and forgiveness. PI Oeindrila Dube explains the RCT and potential hidden costs of programs such as this.
After the violence: Crafting effective public policy in post-conflict settings
September 21, 2015

By Colin Felsman

IPA Colombia and J-PAL Latin America & Carribean, and Universidad de los Andes’ Center for the Study of Security and Drugs (CESED), recently convened policymakers, researchers, and civil society members to discuss proven solutions and pressing questions surrounding conflict and post-conflict contexts. 

Divided into three sessions, following a welcome by IPA Colombia Country Representative Sebastian Chaskel and CESED Director Daniel Mejía, the conference began with presentations of available evidence. These included a presentation by Chris Blattman,...
On Freakonomics Radio: Can cognitive behavioral therapy reduce crime?
Media Coverage
September 17, 2015

IPA researcher Chris Blattman speaks with the Freakonomics podcast talking about research with IPA in Liberia, part of their coverage of the ability of cogntive behavioral therapy and cash grants to combat violence and crime among street youth.
Foreign Policy asks: Can you teach your way out of a war?
Media Coverage
July 02, 2015

Hodei Sultan and Hamidullah Natiq from the US Institute of Peace ask in Foreign Policy Magazine if teaching peace skills is effective. They profile Afghanistan's Gawharshad Institute of Higher Education, which teaches “Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution” alongside the traditional curriculum. The story cites IPA's research on peace education in rural Liberia which found increases in non-violent disputes and decreases in violent ones. Read the full story here and watch a video about IPA's project below.    
The Atlantic covers research on how to integrate ex-combatants in Liberia
Media Coverage
June 25, 2015

IPA's research in Liberia with Chris Blattman of Columbia University and Jeannie Annan of the International Rescue Committee, is featured in The Atlantic article "Can Jobs Deter Crime?" The research evaluated a program aimed at young men, giving them literacy and vocational training along with cash to buy agricultural supplies. Overally the data showed the group who participated in the program spent more time on agricultural activities, and had higher assets, along with less interest in joining a new conflict in neighboring Cote d’Ivoire.
Jobs and jail might not keep young men out of crime, but how about therapy?
Media Coverage
April 15, 2015
Quartz on predicting outbreaks of violence research
Media Coverage
October 31, 2014

The news site Quartz.com covered Chris Blattman's research with IPA in Liberia. Researchers were able to predict outbreaks of future violence in the country with a small set of variables. You can read the full piece, This statistical model can predict outbreaks of violence in Liberia here.
Chris Blattman on Domestic Cash Transfers in the New York Times
Media Coverage
July 07, 2014

In an op-ed for the New York Times, IPA researcher Chris Blattman raises the idea of cash transfers to the homeless in the United States. Among other cash transfer evidence in developing countries, he cites his work with IPA studying cash transfers to urban youths in Liberia. He also discusses a pair of studies in Uganda: an evaluation of WINGS, a cash transfer program for women, and a study of YOP, a similar program for rural youths. 

Blattman posted some further thoughts on his blog. You can also read his article on cash transfers in developing countries in the May/June issue of...
In Businessweek, Charles Kenny on Cash Transfers in Afghanistan
Media Coverage
June 09, 2014

Charles Kenny writes in Bloomberg Businessweek about the prospect of direct cash transfers to civilians in post-conflict Afghanistan. He cites IPA's work in Uganda and Liberia. Chris Blattman writes more on the Uganda study here, and the Liberia study here.
IPA's cash transfer work in New York Times Fixes column
Media Coverage
August 29, 2013

The New York Times Fixes column discusses cash transfer research, including quotes from IPA's Director of Research Methods and Training, Niall Keleher, and IPA affiliate Chris Blattman who discusses his work with IPA in Uganda. The article also discusses our evaluation of GiveDirectly, and our new results from Morocco. You can also find a blog post about recent cash transfer coverage here.

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