Land Rental Markets: Experimental Evidence from Kenya

Last registered on August 30, 2019
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Land Rental Markets: Experimental Evidence from Kenya
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0004530
Initial registration date
August 28, 2019

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
August 30, 2019, 10:04 AM EDT

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

Locations

Country
Kenya
Region

Primary Investigator

Name
Lorenzo Casaburi
Affiliation
University of Zurich
Contact Primary Investigator

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Jack Willis
PI Affiliation
Columbia University
Contact Investigator

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2019-07-15
End date
2021-04-30
Keywords
Agriculture, Firms & Productivity
Additional Keywords
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Abstract
In the experiment, we study the impact of renting out a plot on the plot and on the plot owner. A random sample of interested farmers receives a subsidy conditional on renting out a "target plot" (which is identified at baseline for all groups). Another group receives an unconditional subsidy. A final group is allocated to control. In a "first stage," we examine the impact of the rental subsidy on the likelihood that the target plot is rented out. In the main analysis, we plan to study the impact of renting out (instrumented with the subsidy) on plot-level and owner-level outcomes. The unconditional cash transfers will help shed light on the mechanisms behind this impact.


External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Casaburi, Lorenzo and Jack Willis. 2019. "Land Rental Markets: Experimental Evidence from Kenya." AEA RCT Registry. August 30. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.4530-1.0
Sponsors & Partners
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
We first collect names of farmers who own plots which: (i) they are not planning to rent out, and (ii) they would potentially be interested in renting out if they receive a subsidy to do so. Then we randomize these farmers into 3 groups:
1. Rental subsidy (payment conditional on renting the target plot)
2. Unconditional cash transfer
3. Control
Intervention Start Date
2019-08-01
Intervention End Date
2021-01-31

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
1. "First-stage" outcomes and duration

2. Plot-level outcomes
i. Characteristics of the plot manager (owner if not rented out, renter if rented out)
a. Gender, age, education
b. Household land endowment / use
c. Household labor endowment / use
d. Household wealth index
e. Liquidity constraints
f. Input use
ii. Land use: cultivation vs. fallow, crops grown
iii. Input use: labor, fertilizer, seeds, etc.
iv. Output and productivity

Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
1. Plot-level outcomes
i. Characteristics of the plot manager (owner if not rented out, renter if rented out)
a. Agricultural knowledge and productivity
b. Distance from plot
c. Food security
d. Savings and loans
ii. Soil quality

2. Owner-level outcomes
i. Outcomes for other (non-target) plots. Including productivity, input use, and rental decisions.
ii. Non-agricultural activities
iii. Household asset index
iv. Food security
v. Finance (savings, loans, liquidity, etc.)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We first collect names of farmers potentially interested in renting out an additional plot if they receive a subsidy to do so. Then we randomize these farmers into 3 groups:
1. Rental subsidy (conditional on renting the target plot)
2. Unconditional cash transfer
3. Control
For the analysis, we plan to instrument renting out with the rental subsidy (if the first stage is strong enough). If the unconditional cash transfer has little effect, we will report a specification with groups 2 and 3 pooled, so as to maximize power for the estimating the effect of renting out.
We will do multiple rounds of follow-up surveys: at least two, possibly more if funding allows.
Experimental Design Details
Randomization Method
Randomization on a computer
Randomization Unit
Farmer, with multiple levels of stratification
Was the treatment clustered?
No

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
N/A
Sample size: planned number of observations
Approximately 500 farmers in season 1. We may expand the sample in future seasons, depending on take-up
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
Approximately 170x3 treatment arms
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Maseno University
IRB Approval Date
2019-06-11
IRB Approval Number
00720/19
IRB Name
Columbia University
IRB Approval Date
2019-06-27
IRB Approval Number
IRB-AAAS4870
IRB Name
University of Zurich
IRB Approval Date
2019-05-20
IRB Approval Number
OEC IRB # 2019-021
Analysis Plan

Post-Trial

Post Trial Information

Study Withdrawal

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Intervention

Is the intervention completed?
No
Data Collection Complete
Data Publication

Data Publication

Is public data available?
No

Program Files

Program Files
Reports, Papers & Other Materials

Relevant Paper(s)

Reports & Other Materials