David Roodman's Microfinance Open Book Blog

The biggest development in development economics lately is the surge in the use of randomized trials. As in careful drug trials, randomly giving some people a "treatment," such as an offer of microcredit, and comparing how they do to people not offered can be a powerful research tool.

As I conceive it, Chapter 1 (.doc .pdf) motivates, introduces, and summarizes the book. Not surprisingly, I drafted this chapter first--back in June, in order to present the book ideas to my CGD colleagues. Since then I have written and learned much more. Once the rest of the book is drafted, I will return to this chapter and make it do a better job of distilling and communicating the conclusions.

Here are a short pitch and a working outline for my book. I will hotlink this entry to chapter drafts as I post them. You can also find drafts via the "Contents" list on the right margin of the blog home page.