The Political Consequences of Setting and Missing Targets

Last registered on August 27, 2025

View Trial History

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

August 27, 2025, 7:34 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country

India

Region

Primary Investigator

Name

Martin Mattsson

Affiliation

National University of Singapore

Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name

Sangita Vyas

PI Affiliation

Hunter College CUNY

Contact Investigator

PI Name

Archana Dhinakar Bala

PI Affiliation

National University of Singapore

Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status

Completed

Start date

2024-07-08

End date

2025-08-26

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. 2025. "The Political Consequences of Setting and Missing Targets." AEA RCT Registry. August 27. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.13941-1.2

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 (Hidden)

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

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

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?

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