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Dynamic Field Experiments in Development Economics: Risk Valuation in Morocco, Kenya, and Peru

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2016

Travis J. Lybbert
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis
Francisco B. Galarza
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Wisconsin in Madison
John McPeak
Affiliation:
Department of Public Administration at Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York
Christopher B. Barrett
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
Stephen R. Boucher
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis
Michael R. Carter
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of California, Davis
Sommarat Chantarat
Affiliation:
Department of Applied Economics and Management at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York
Aziz Fadlaoui
Affiliation:
Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique in Meknes, Morocco
Andrew Mude
Affiliation:
International Livestock Research Institute in Nairobi, Kenya
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Abstract

The effective design and implementation of interventions that reduce vulnerability and poverty require a solid understanding of underlying poverty dynamics and associated behavioral responses. Stochastic and dynamic benefit streams can make it difficult for the poor to learn the value of such interventions to them. We explore how dynamic field experiments can help (i) intended beneficiaries to learn and understand these complicated benefit streams, and (ii) researchers to better understand how the poor respond to risk when faced with nonlinear welfare dynamics. We discuss and analyze dynamic risk valuation experiments in Morocco, Peru, and Kenya.

Type
Contributed Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 2010 Northeastern Agricultural and Resource Economics Association 

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