Can impact evaluations make a difference? Can they be something more than looking for the keys where the light is instead of where the keys were actually lost? The answer is an unequivocal yes, but for reasons other than the ones usually put forth. The argument I make in this note is that impact evaluations are important not only because of their direct effect in showing which … [Read more...] about Let There Be (More) Light: The Case for Impact Evaluations
Faced with a Water Shortage, a Flood of Ideas.
The US state of California is passing through a very serious drought, which has resulted in serious problems of water availability. Experts have not been able to agree on the reasons for the extreme situation and why preventive measures were not taken, nor have they been able to agree on the best possible solutions. Nevertheless, it seems that the measures they have taken up … [Read more...] about Faced with a Water Shortage, a Flood of Ideas.
Does Facebook Conspire against Happiness?
What's the key to happiness? How can we become as happy as those who live in Nordic countries -“the happiest in the world" - according to the United Nations' World Happiness Report 2013? One of the keys is not comparing ourselves to everyone else. Improving people's quality of life and their happiness is not easy. Happiness depends on many factors that are often beyond the … [Read more...] about Does Facebook Conspire against Happiness?
House of Cards, Latin American Style
House of Cards returned to Netflix this weekend, along with Kevin Spacey’s Machiavellian politico Frank Underwood, who now holds all the cards as president of the United States. House of Cards transports millions into Washington’s corridors of power, offering a glimpse into the backroom machinations of policymaking. Of course, as the show suggests, any similarities to real … [Read more...] about House of Cards, Latin American Style
Vaccination: Infectious Misinformation
Public information campaigns are a complex undertaking; how the message is delivered matters at least as much as the content of the message itself. Moreover, getting it right is paramount since undoing the damage of misinformation is difficult indeed. In this regard, the debate over vaccination provides a difficult lesson—one in which the repercussions of poor messaging are, … [Read more...] about Vaccination: Infectious Misinformation