Direct and Interaction Effects of Cash Transfers and Psychological Interventions Promoting Future Orientation on Economic Outcomes

Last registered on December 19, 2021
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Pre-Trial

Trial Information

General Information

Title
Direct and Interaction Effects of Cash Transfers and Psychological Interventions Promoting Future Orientation on Economic Outcomes
RCT ID
AEARCTR-0000996
Initial registration date
November 16, 2016
Last updated
December 19, 2021, 2:45 PM EST

Locations

Country
Kenya
Region
Homa Bay and Siaya

Primary Investigator

Name
Kate Orkin
Affiliation
University of Oxford
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Other Primary Investigator(s)

PI Name
Johannes Haushofer
PI Affiliation
Princeton University
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PI Name
Mahreen Mahmud
PI Affiliation
University of Oxford
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PI Name
Richard Sedlmayr
PI Affiliation
University of Oxford
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PI Name
Stefan Dercon
PI Affiliation
University of Oxford
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PI Name
Rob Garlick
PI Affiliation
Duke University
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Additional Trial Information

Status
On going
Start date
2016-01-11
End date
2022-12-31
Keywords
Agriculture, Education, Labor, Welfare
Additional Keywords
Cash transfers, future orientation, goal-setting, behavioural interventions
JEL code(s)
Secondary IDs
Prior work
This trial does not extend or rely on any prior RCTs.
Abstract
The study seeks to analyse the impact cash transfers and of social psychological interventions (individually and in combination) on psychological and economic outcomes. Several sub-studies are associated with it.
External Link(s)

Registration Citation

Citation
Orkin, Kate et al. 2021. "Direct and Interaction Effects of Cash Transfers and Psychological Interventions Promoting Future Orientation on Economic Outcomes." AEA RCT Registry. December 19. https://doi.org/10.1257/rct.996-12.299999999999999
Former Citation
Orkin, Kate et al. 2021. "Direct and Interaction Effects of Cash Transfers and Psychological Interventions Promoting Future Orientation on Economic Outcomes." AEA RCT Registry. December 19. https://www.socialscienceregistry.org/trials/996/history/106818
Sponsors & Partners

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Experimental Details

Interventions

Intervention(s)
Three types of interventions are used in the trial:
- The psychologically active intervention consists of two back-to-back ten-minute aspirational videos, a facilitated goal-setting exercise, and the distribution of a reminder.
- The psychologically inactive intervention consists of two back-to-back ten-minute placebo videos, a facilitated placebo exercise, and the distribution of a reminder.
- The cash transfer intervention consists of the standard three-stage cash transfer program implemented by GiveDirectly.

In the course of the registration process for the cash transfers, eligible individuals are provided with a mobile money account as well as a mobile phone if they do not yet have these. This is followed by three mobile money transfers, made in intervals of approximately two months: a small transfer (`Token') of approximately USD100 (nominal 2016 dollars); a large transfer (`Lump Sum A') of approximately USD450; and a second large transfer (`Lump Sum B') of USD450 minus the price of the mobile phone.
Intervention Start Date
2016-11-01
Intervention End Date
2017-06-30

Primary Outcomes

Primary Outcomes (end points)
Assets, investment into economic activity, human capital investment, labour supply, revenue, consumption. We also examine the mechanisms through which the psychological intervention may work: self-efficacy, growth mindset, aspirations, expectations, preferences, depression and cognitive bandwidth.

Two initial analysis plans are enclosed in the initial registration (November 2016) for outcomes collected in the vicinity of the intervention, examining self-efficacy, growth mindset, aspirations and expectations, as well as cognitive outcomes.
Primary Outcomes (explanation)
See pre-analysis plans

Secondary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes (end points)
See pre-analysis plans
Secondary Outcomes (explanation)
See pre-analysis plans

Experimental Design

Experimental Design
The project follows a 2x2 factorial design, and villages randomly allocated into one of four treatment arms:
(1) Psychologically active intervention
(2) Placebo intervention
(3) Cash transfer intervention plus psychologically active intervention
(4) Cash transfer intervention plus placebo intervention
Within arm (3), the timing of the psychologically active intervention is randomized at the level of individuals.
Experimental Design Details
Not available
Randomization Method
Stratified randomization by computer.
Randomization Unit
Randomized at the village level.
Was the treatment clustered?
Yes

Experiment Characteristics

Sample size: planned number of clusters
415 villages
Sample size: planned number of observations
Roughly 8,000 (tracking of participants is ongoing).
Sample size (or number of clusters) by treatment arms
1/4 of villages in each arm.
Minimum detectable effect size for main outcomes (accounting for sample design and clustering)
Supporting Documents and Materials

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IRB

Institutional Review Boards (IRBs)

IRB Name
Social Science & Humanities Inter-Divisional Research Ethics Committee
IRB Approval Date
2016-04-13
IRB Approval Number
SSD/CUREC1A/BSG C1A_16-002
Analysis Plan

Analysis Plan Documents

Orkin Garlick Mahmud Sedlmayr Haushofer Dercon cash and psych cross-cut endline PAP

MD5: 745c80b57cd7f864ac64aff68a0182f5

SHA1: 593824dd65354f4c110cf13b927fe338eed3ae88

Uploaded At: February 23, 2019

2018-11-04_TimingStudy_ManipChecks.pdf

MD5: 44e55248c7d87a9eaa648c4483dfd8af

SHA1: 29834c1c50873c500914fc6f476b4eb5a4176a3d

Uploaded At: November 04, 2018

Contact and Migration PAP

MD5: a20b582ff6df3956e84f3e7801b0fbc2

SHA1: 861ea540a5745384d273453eb803f7013f01a2bb

Uploaded At: May 08, 2018

2018-03-13_timing_subtrial.pdf

MD5: bd9b5b8a186d96e305bf942196020b54

SHA1: d0fa0ef02da2435f7f2b1edc6dce901ffbb24c76

Uploaded At: March 13, 2018

Manipulation Checks PAP

MD5: 5908f5f4efdaf6b3c63819034f908434

SHA1: 859d50aaaceafa24492c6030c93647793c88a34f

Uploaded At: July 08, 2017