The Political Consequences of Setting and Missing Targets

Last registered on September 06, 2024
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
The Political Consequences of Setting and Missing Targets
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0013941
Initial registration date
July 05, 2024

Initial registration date is when the trial was registered.

It corresponds to when the registration was submitted to the Registry to be reviewed for publication.

First published
July 08, 2024, 1:45 PM EDT

First published corresponds to when the trial was first made public on the Registry after being reviewed.

Last updated
September 06, 2024, 7:19 PM EDT

Last updated is the most recent time when changes to the trial's registration were published.

Locations

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Primary Investigator

Name
Martin Mattsson
Affiliation
National University of Singapore
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Sangita Vyas
PI Affiliation
Hunter College CUNY
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PI Name
Archana Dhinakar Bala
PI Affiliation
National University of Singapore
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Additional Trial Information

Status
In development
Start date
2024-07-08
End date
2025-12-31
Keywords
Environment & Energy, Governance
Additional Keywords
Air Pollution, Government Policy, Political Targets, Policy Formulation, Policy Implementation
JEL code(s)
D78, K32, Q53, Q58
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
We will conduct a survey experiment to measure the effect of information about the Indian government’s policies towards reducing air pollution on respondents’ opinions of the government’s work. One treatment arm includes information about the Indian government’s policy to reduce air pollution. A second treatment arm informs respondents that the program has thus far not been effective in meeting air pollution targets set forth in the policy. A control arm will provide no information about the government’s policies or progress on reducing air pollution. We will measure the effect of information treatment on respondents’ opinions of the government’s work to reduce air pollution.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Dhinakar Bala, Archana, Martin Mattsson and Sangita Vyas. 2024. "The Political Consequences of Setting and Missing Targets." AEA RCT Registry. September 06. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13941-1.1
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
This is a survey experiment where one treatment arm includes information about the Indian government’s policy to reduce air pollution. A second treatment arm informs respondents that the program has thus far not been effective in meeting air pollution targets set forth in the policy. A control arm will provide no information about the government’s policies or progress on reducing air pollution.
Intervention Start Date
2024-07-08
Intervention End Date
2024-09-08

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
We have three main outcome variables: Opinion About Government Actions, Perception of Government Dedication, and Satisfaction with Government Policies. Each outcome is measured on a three-point Likert scale and will be recast as standard deviations away from the control group mean.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The survey will be carried out over the phone in three languages (Hindi, Tamil, and Bengali) across Indian cities that are covered by NCAP. Respondents will be randomly assigned to one of three arms: NCAP information, No effect information, and No information.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
The randomization is done within the survey software.
Randomization Unit
The randomization is done at the level of the individual respondent.
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
Approximately 5,000 respondents.
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approximately 5,000 respondents.
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approximately 1666 respondents in control, 1666 respondents informed about the Indian government’s policy to reduce air pollution, and 1666 respondents informed about the policy not being effective in meeting the air pollution targets.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Departmental Ethics Review Committee (DERC) - National University of Singapore
IRB Approval Date
2024-03-11
IRB Approval Number
N/A
Analysis Plan

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