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External validity and policy adaptation: From impact evaluation to policy design

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  • Williams, Martin J.

Abstract

* Whether a policy that worked in one context will also work in another depends on the interaction of the policy's mechanism with features of the context. This is its "external validity". * Existing methods are helpful for understanding a policy's external validity, but are limited to examining a small number of dimensions of context. * Mechanism mapping is a five-step procedure to help policymakers identify potential mechanism-context interactions, and come up with suitable adaptations.

Suggested Citation

  • Williams, Martin J., 2019. "External validity and policy adaptation: From impact evaluation to policy design," PEGNet Policy Briefs 18/2019, PEGNet - Poverty Reduction, Equity and Growth Network, Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel).
  • Handle: RePEc:zbw:pegnpb:182019
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    File URL: https://www.econstor.eu/bitstream/10419/206422/1/1681096056.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hunt Allcott, 2015. "Site Selection Bias in Program Evaluation," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 130(3), pages 1117-1165.
    2. Eva Vivalt, 0. "How Much Can We Generalize From Impact Evaluations?," Journal of the European Economic Association, European Economic Association, vol. 18(6), pages 3045-3089.
    3. Bold, Tessa & Kimenyi, Mwangi & Mwabu, Germano & Ng’ang’a, Alice & Sandefur, Justin, 2018. "Experimental evidence on scaling up education reforms in Kenya," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 1-20.
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    Cited by:

    1. Julia H. Littell, 2024. "The Logic of Generalization From Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses of Impact Evaluations," Evaluation Review, , vol. 48(3), pages 427-460, June.
    2. Williams, Martin J., 2020. "Beyond ‘context matters’: Context and external validity in impact evaluation," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).

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