Michelle Rao
@mrao.bsky.social
Fellow @cgdev | Development economist
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Thanks to the World Bank Development Impact blog for featuring my job market paper! Read about it here: blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
November 10, 2025 at 7:26 PM
Thanks to the World Bank Development Impact blog for featuring my job market paper! Read about it here: blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
Reposted by Michelle Rao
All I want in life is to persuade everyone, when encountering politics & culture, to ask, "why are we talking about this?" I mean that very literally: anything you encounter on your screens reflects a choice. Someone covered that, talked about that, rather than the many other things out there. Why?
October 10, 2025 at 10:18 AM
All I want in life is to persuade everyone, when encountering politics & culture, to ask, "why are we talking about this?" I mean that very literally: anything you encounter on your screens reflects a choice. Someone covered that, talked about that, rather than the many other things out there. Why?
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Foreign aid from the United States saved millions of lives each year by @hannahritchie.bsky.social and @simonvanteutem.bsky.social
ourworldindata.org/us-foreign-a...
ourworldindata.org/us-foreign-a...
Foreign aid from the United States saved millions of lives each year
For decades, these aid programs received bipartisan support and made a difference. Cutting them will cost lives.
ourworldindata.org
September 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Foreign aid from the United States saved millions of lives each year by @hannahritchie.bsky.social and @simonvanteutem.bsky.social
ourworldindata.org/us-foreign-a...
ourworldindata.org/us-foreign-a...
Reposted by Michelle Rao
🚨 “Good Description” with @annagbusse.bsky.social 🚨
What sets 'good' description apart from 'mere' description?
We develop a framework for evaluating descriptive research, whether we are doing it as scholars or assessing it as readers.
Two main contributions...
🔗📄 tinyurl.com/gooddesc
What sets 'good' description apart from 'mere' description?
We develop a framework for evaluating descriptive research, whether we are doing it as scholars or assessing it as readers.
Two main contributions...
🔗📄 tinyurl.com/gooddesc
good_description/good_description_ddk_agb.pdf at main · ddekadt/good_description
Homepage of "Good Description" by Daniel de Kadt & Anna Grzymala-Busse - ddekadt/good_description
tinyurl.com
May 14, 2025 at 9:52 PM
🚨 “Good Description” with @annagbusse.bsky.social 🚨
What sets 'good' description apart from 'mere' description?
We develop a framework for evaluating descriptive research, whether we are doing it as scholars or assessing it as readers.
Two main contributions...
🔗📄 tinyurl.com/gooddesc
What sets 'good' description apart from 'mere' description?
We develop a framework for evaluating descriptive research, whether we are doing it as scholars or assessing it as readers.
Two main contributions...
🔗📄 tinyurl.com/gooddesc
Reposted by Michelle Rao
This is a key table to understanding public opinion on migration. *When confronted with the real trade offs* people go for protecting the NHS and the economy over reducing migration.
The problem as per the rest of the thread is many don't believe those trade offs exist.
The problem as per the rest of the thread is many don't believe those trade offs exist.
When presented economy vs immigration trade-offs, Britons typically opt for economic benefit over lower migration
Those who support requiring large nos of migrants to leave would pick fully staffing NHS over reducing immigration, but economic arguments hold less sway
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
Those who support requiring large nos of migrants to leave would pick fully staffing NHS over reducing immigration, but economic arguments hold less sway
yougov.co.uk/politics/art...
August 5, 2025 at 8:19 AM
This is a key table to understanding public opinion on migration. *When confronted with the real trade offs* people go for protecting the NHS and the economy over reducing migration.
The problem as per the rest of the thread is many don't believe those trade offs exist.
The problem as per the rest of the thread is many don't believe those trade offs exist.
Reposted by Michelle Rao
📢FREE Online Development Economics Course for students in Africa and South Asia PLUS access to impact evaluation video course by Stefano Caria
May 12-July 14
Apply by: April 21, 2025
Taught by Oriana Bandiera
& Robin Burgess & amazing TAs from LSE
Details & submission form: rb.gy/ct9ikf
May 12-July 14
Apply by: April 21, 2025
Taught by Oriana Bandiera
& Robin Burgess & amazing TAs from LSE
Details & submission form: rb.gy/ct9ikf
March 18, 2025 at 2:21 PM
📢FREE Online Development Economics Course for students in Africa and South Asia PLUS access to impact evaluation video course by Stefano Caria
May 12-July 14
Apply by: April 21, 2025
Taught by Oriana Bandiera
& Robin Burgess & amazing TAs from LSE
Details & submission form: rb.gy/ct9ikf
May 12-July 14
Apply by: April 21, 2025
Taught by Oriana Bandiera
& Robin Burgess & amazing TAs from LSE
Details & submission form: rb.gy/ct9ikf
Reposted by Michelle Rao
NEW: updated long-run gap in voting between young men and women in Germany:
Gender divide continues to widen, but contrary to what is often assumed, young men continue to vote roughly in line with the overall population, while young women have swung sharply left.
www.ft.com/content/29fd...
Gender divide continues to widen, but contrary to what is often assumed, young men continue to vote roughly in line with the overall population, while young women have swung sharply left.
www.ft.com/content/29fd...
February 24, 2025 at 9:16 AM
NEW: updated long-run gap in voting between young men and women in Germany:
Gender divide continues to widen, but contrary to what is often assumed, young men continue to vote roughly in line with the overall population, while young women have swung sharply left.
www.ft.com/content/29fd...
Gender divide continues to widen, but contrary to what is often assumed, young men continue to vote roughly in line with the overall population, while young women have swung sharply left.
www.ft.com/content/29fd...
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Elon says 90% of US aid never reaches communities.
He confuses USAID's 90% reliance on intermediaries -- US companies delivering HIV drugs, WFP delivering food aid -- with waste. Comical if not so dangerous.
@rachelbonnifield.bsky.social & I break down where aid goes: www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
He confuses USAID's 90% reliance on intermediaries -- US companies delivering HIV drugs, WFP delivering food aid -- with waste. Comical if not so dangerous.
@rachelbonnifield.bsky.social & I break down where aid goes: www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
February 4, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Elon says 90% of US aid never reaches communities.
He confuses USAID's 90% reliance on intermediaries -- US companies delivering HIV drugs, WFP delivering food aid -- with waste. Comical if not so dangerous.
@rachelbonnifield.bsky.social & I break down where aid goes: www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
He confuses USAID's 90% reliance on intermediaries -- US companies delivering HIV drugs, WFP delivering food aid -- with waste. Comical if not so dangerous.
@rachelbonnifield.bsky.social & I break down where aid goes: www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Musk's claim that just 10% of US aid reaches recipients is absurd. @cgdev lays out the facts:
- US gov costs are just 10%
- Rest reaches recipients mostly thru US corps/nonprofits + multilateral agencies
- ~10% goes thru foreign organizations
www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
- US gov costs are just 10%
- Rest reaches recipients mostly thru US corps/nonprofits + multilateral agencies
- ~10% goes thru foreign organizations
www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
No, 90 Percent of Aid Is Not Skimmed Off Before Reaching Target Communities
A viral claim, spread and amplified by Elon Musk, suggests that only 10 percent of USAID money reaches its intended beneficiaries. This is a wildly incorrect and misleading interpretation of a differe...
www.cgdev.org
February 4, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Musk's claim that just 10% of US aid reaches recipients is absurd. @cgdev lays out the facts:
- US gov costs are just 10%
- Rest reaches recipients mostly thru US corps/nonprofits + multilateral agencies
- ~10% goes thru foreign organizations
www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
- US gov costs are just 10%
- Rest reaches recipients mostly thru US corps/nonprofits + multilateral agencies
- ~10% goes thru foreign organizations
www.cgdev.org/blog/no-90-p...
Reposted by Michelle Rao
People have gathered outside USAID HQ for press event with Democratic Congressmen Beyer, Raskin, Connolly and Olzewski and Senator Van Hollen where they're addressing the building's mysterious shutdown today in the midst of the Trump admin dismantling the agency.
(Photos shared with me)
(Photos shared with me)
February 3, 2025 at 6:02 PM
People have gathered outside USAID HQ for press event with Democratic Congressmen Beyer, Raskin, Connolly and Olzewski and Senator Van Hollen where they're addressing the building's mysterious shutdown today in the midst of the Trump admin dismantling the agency.
(Photos shared with me)
(Photos shared with me)
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Timely program evaluation is most likely to influence spending on the program. Highly relevant to all of us who do policy evaluation and hope to have an impact #EconSky
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 2:08 PM
Timely program evaluation is most likely to influence spending on the program. Highly relevant to all of us who do policy evaluation and hope to have an impact #EconSky
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Do check out @mrao.bsky.social's excellent and important job market paper. It raises a bunch of important questions for those of us trying to conduct research to inform policy.
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 11:41 AM
Do check out @mrao.bsky.social's excellent and important job market paper. It raises a bunch of important questions for those of us trying to conduct research to inform policy.
Thanks for the summary Rachael!
One big implication of the paper is that the link between research and policy cannot be taken as given, and needs to be rigorously studied -- this is what I do in my current and future work. Read more here: www.michellerao.com/research
#EconJMP #EconSky
One big implication of the paper is that the link between research and policy cannot be taken as given, and needs to be rigorously studied -- this is what I do in my current and future work. Read more here: www.michellerao.com/research
#EconJMP #EconSky
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 11:04 AM
Thanks for the summary Rachael!
One big implication of the paper is that the link between research and policy cannot be taken as given, and needs to be rigorously studied -- this is what I do in my current and future work. Read more here: www.michellerao.com/research
#EconJMP #EconSky
One big implication of the paper is that the link between research and policy cannot be taken as given, and needs to be rigorously studied -- this is what I do in my current and future work. Read more here: www.michellerao.com/research
#EconJMP #EconSky
Reposted by Michelle Rao
Extremely 👀 JMP showing that policy evaluation, including RCTs, has *zero* link to further spending on the policy. The exception is when evaluations are a) done fast and b) are owned by the party in power.
The context is LatAm/Caribbean countries, but there’s lot’s here for us all to think about.
The context is LatAm/Caribbean countries, but there’s lot’s here for us all to think about.
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 9:08 AM
Extremely 👀 JMP showing that policy evaluation, including RCTs, has *zero* link to further spending on the policy. The exception is when evaluations are a) done fast and b) are owned by the party in power.
The context is LatAm/Caribbean countries, but there’s lot’s here for us all to think about.
The context is LatAm/Caribbean countries, but there’s lot’s here for us all to think about.
Reposted by Michelle Rao
This is a really interesting paper from @mrao.bsky.social! In my consultancy days I was always struck by how much money & time gets spent doing surface-level lit reviews, that have previously been done in more depth by someone else, w/ no observable impact on decision-making.
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 9:45 AM
This is a really interesting paper from @mrao.bsky.social! In my consultancy days I was always struck by how much money & time gets spent doing surface-level lit reviews, that have previously been done in more depth by someone else, w/ no observable impact on decision-making.
Reposted by Michelle Rao
👇 👏 important insights on how much (or little) policies are based research.
(I would be curious if this also applies to other fields/setting)
(I would be curious if this also applies to other fields/setting)
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 8:57 AM
👇 👏 important insights on how much (or little) policies are based research.
(I would be curious if this also applies to other fields/setting)
(I would be curious if this also applies to other fields/setting)
Reposted by Michelle Rao
All policy is politics! Really cool work by @mrao.bsky.social
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 6:43 AM
All policy is politics! Really cool work by @mrao.bsky.social
Reposted by Michelle Rao
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 6:22 AM
Reposted by Michelle Rao
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
November 27, 2024 at 5:42 AM
We still have a relatively poor understanding of the relationship between evidence and policy. Program evaluation in particular is often motivated by a desire to make policy better. But how effective is program evaluation itself?Michelle Rao's JMP tackles this question. www.michellerao.com/research
Thanks to the World Bank Development Impact blog for the opportunity to post about my job market paper!
I study the relationship between program evaluations and policy spending, in the context of CCTs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Read here for insights 👇
I study the relationship between program evaluations and policy spending, in the context of CCTs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Read here for insights 👇
I'm excited to kick-off our annual series of posts by PhD students in development on the job market with @mrao.bsky.social 's post on whether & when evaluation evidence affects spending on CCTs using 128 program evaluations in Latin America. blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva...
What is the relationship between evaluation findings and policy spending?
blogs.worldbank.org
November 7, 2024 at 7:17 PM
Thanks to the World Bank Development Impact blog for the opportunity to post about my job market paper!
I study the relationship between program evaluations and policy spending, in the context of CCTs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Read here for insights 👇
I study the relationship between program evaluations and policy spending, in the context of CCTs in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Read here for insights 👇