An adaptive targeted field experiment: job search assistance for refugees in Jordan
File(s)RefugeesWork.pdf (1.39 MB)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
We introduce an adaptive targeted treatment assignment methodology for field experiments. Our Tempered Thompson Algorithm balances the goals of maximizing the precision of treatment effect estimates and maximizing the welfare of experimental participants. A hierarchical Bayesian model allows us to adaptively target treatments. We implement our methodology in Jordan, testing policies to help Syrian refugees and local jobseekers to find work. The immediate employment impacts of a small cash grant, information and psychological support are small, but targeting raises employment by 1 percentage-point (20%). After 4 months, cash has a sizable effect on employment and earnings of Syrians.
Date Issued
2024-04
Date Acceptance
2023-11-15
Citation
Journal of the European Economic Association, 2024, 22 (2), pp.781-836
ISSN
1542-4766
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Start Page
781
End Page
836
Journal / Book Title
Journal of the European Economic Association
Volume
22
Issue
2
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2023Oxford University Press. This is a pre-copy-editing, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Journal of the European Economic Association following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version A Stefano Caria, Grant Gordon, Maximilian Kasy, Simon Quinn, Soha Osman Shami, Alexander Teytelboym, An Adaptive Targeted Field Experiment: Job Search Assistance for Refugees in Jordan, Journal of the European Economic Association, 2023;, jvad067, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/jeea/jvad067
Identifier
http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/jeea/jvad067
Publication Status
Published
Rights Embargo Date
2025-11-15
Article Number
jvad067
Date Publish Online
2023-11-16