Taming Counterfeit Markets with Consumer Information

Last registered on August 25, 2020

Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Taming Counterfeit Markets with Consumer Information
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0005510
Initial registration date
February 29, 2020

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
March 02, 2020, 3:59 PM EST

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

Last updated
August 25, 2020, 5:32 PM EDT

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

Locations

Primary Investigator

Affiliation
Yale University

Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Affiliation
Strathmore University

Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2020-02-03
End date
2021-06-30
Secondary IDs
Abstract
In the presence of imperfectly observed quality, a market breakdown can occur in which sellers of high-quality products do not find it profitable to remain in the market. Such market dynamics can affect both buyers and sellers, but little research has explored these dynamics empirically, particularly in developing county settings where substandard and counterfeit goods have been reported to be widespread in numerous industries. In this project, we study the market for an important productive input – hybrid maize seeds. We study whether an information campaign to improve Kenyan farmers’ ability to detect seed quality and empower then to obtain recourse can: (1) increase usage of techniques to verify quality, (2) increase adoption of quality-verified products, (3) increase product quality and profitability at firms in the local market, and (4) improve agricultural outcomes. The information campaign is to be randomized across small rural markets in Western Kenya. Findings will provide direct evidence for an intervention relevant for boosting yields of a staple crop crucial for food security. We also aim to provide generalizable lessons on the role of information asymmetry in a market as a barrier to the adoption of productive inputs.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Hsu, Eric and Anne Wambugu. 2020. "Taming Counterfeit Markets with Consumer Information." AEA RCT Registry. August 25. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.5510-1.3
Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Intervention Start Date
2020-02-03
Intervention End Date
2020-03-20

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
(1) usage of techniques to verify quality
(2) adoption of quality-verified products
(3) increase product quality and profitability at firms in the local market
(4) agricultural outcomes including seed germination rate and yield
Primary Outcomes (explanation)

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
We randomize information treatments across market areas in Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, and Transnzoia Counties in Western Kenya.
Experimental Design Details
Half of the market areas will be selected for treatment, with the treated market areas evenly split between those receiving Treatment #1 and those receiving both Treatments #1 and #2. Treatment will focus on maize farmers who reside within 1 kilometer from the market center.
Randomization Method
Randomization done using Stata 13
Randomization Unit
We randomize sublocations (a low-level administrative unit) into a treatment group. Within a sublocation, a market is chosen to be the one to be surveyed and treated. Within a market areas, randomly chosen seed sellers and maize farmers are chosen to be surveyed.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
320 market areas
Sample size: planned number of observations
320 market areas, 2560 maize farmers, 640 seed sellers
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
160 market areas assigned to treatment (with 80 assigned to Treatment #1, and 80 assigned to Treatment #1 plus Treatment #2)
160 market areas assigned to control
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Strathmore Unviersity
IRB Approval Date
2019-12-05
IRB Approval Number
SU-IERC0581/19
IRB Name
UC Berkeley
IRB Approval Date
2019-12-18
IRB Approval Number
2019-10-12666
Analysis Plan

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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