The researchers have two ongoing data collection efforts. 1) Data collection with market traders: The researchers propose to document the effect of market disruptions due to COVID-19 on approximately 300 rural markets in Liberia, Malawi, and Rwanda. They will make use of ongoing phone-based data collection with market vendors and traders, and add new modules to measure the impacts of market disruptions. 2) Data collection to evaluate the effect of GiveDirectly cash transfers on the effect of COVID-19: The researchers seek funding to extend data collection in an experimental evaluation of unconditional cash transfers being provided by GiveDirectly in rural Liberia and Malawi. The experiment involves a total of over 40,000 households in 440 villages in the two countries. Treatment households have been given large uncondional cash transfers of $250, $500, or $750, and 2 households per villages are currently enrolled in bimonthly phone calls.

Researchers:
Shilpa Aggarwal, Jenny Aker, Marco Gonzalez-Navarro, Dahyeon Jeong, Maria Jones, Florence Kondylis, Naresh Kumar, John Loeser, David Park, Jonathan Robinson, Alan Spearot
Country:
Liberia, Malawi, Rwanda
Program Area:
Agriculture, Social Protection
Partners:
GiveDirectly (Liberia/Malawi)
Study Type:
Quasi-experimental Analysis
Timeline:
May-December 2020
Implemented by IPA:
Yes
Impact Goals:
Build resilience and protect the financial health of families and individuals; Build resilient and adaptable businesses and employment opportunities; Improve social-safety net responses
Outcomes of Interest:
Project 1) Prices, market closures (including the ones from which vendors source goods as well as the ones where they sell), supply disruptions, income declines, product mix, and number of customers; Project 2) Behavior change around COVID, attitudes, and several measures of food consumption
Data Collection Mode:
CATI (Computer-assisted telephone interviewing)
Pre-Registration:
socialscienceregistry.org
Results Status:
No Results Yet