Low-Cost Randomized Controlled Trials to Drive Effective Social Spending

Overview

<p>This RFP invites grant applications to conduct low-cost RCTs in any area of domestic social policy. Low-cost randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are a powerful new tool for building scientific evidence about “what works” in social spending. Well-conducted RCTs are widely regarded as the most credible method of evaluating whether a social program is effective, but are often assumed to be inherently too expensive and burdensome for practical use in most areas. Recently, however, researchers have shown that, in many instances, high-quality RCTs can be conducted at low cost and minimal burden, addressing a key obstacle to their widespread use. Such studies make it possible now, as never before, for policy officials to use scientific evidence about what works to increase government effectiveness (see our short concept paper on low-cost RCTs for further discussion).</p>