it’s all just a little bit of history repeating

(soundtrack.) this is an idea i have been turning over for some time in my head but will finally put out there since i am too exhausted to do any other work and or to care any longer if it makes sense (that said, it does seem that some seemingly smart people have suggested similarContinue reading "it’s all just a little bit of history repeating"

have evidence, will… um, erm? (1 of 2)

this is a joint post with suvojit chattopadhyay, also cross-posted here. commissioning evidence among those who talk about development & welfare policy/programs/projects, it is tres chic to talk about evidence-informed decision-making (including the evidence on evidence-informed decision-making and the evidence on the evidence on…[insert infinite recursion]). this concept -- formerly best-known as evidence-based policy-making --Continue reading "have evidence, will… um, erm? (1 of 2)"

I’m pretty cool with the fact that very few* women get prostate cancer (talking about inequality, in advance of #SOTU)

Lots of people have commented recently on even-more-famous people (President Obama, the Pope) commenting on inequality. This incidental economist post is particularly clear and helpful.  The main, brief point I want to make here is about precision of language. 'Inequality' is a word that should rarely be used alone. It is much more helpful toContinue reading "I’m pretty cool with the fact that very few* women get prostate cancer (talking about inequality, in advance of #SOTU)"

something to put in your friday pipe(line) (i am not so sure about phase-in/pipeline designs)…

first of all, i admit that i had to use the interwebs to make certain of the meaning of 'put that in your pipe and smoke it,' having initially heard the phrase via west side story and only inferring the meaning. wikitionary suggests that it is truth-telling of a surprising or unpleasant nature, which mightContinue reading "something to put in your friday pipe(line) (i am not so sure about phase-in/pipeline designs)…"

Anecdotes and simple observations are dangerous; words and narratives are not.

*this blog post was also cross-posted on people, spaces, deliberation, including as one of the top 10 posts of 2014. In a recent blog post on stories, and following some themes from an earlier talk by Tyler Cowen, David Evans ends by suggesting: “Vivid and touching tales move us more than statistics. So let’s listenContinue reading "Anecdotes and simple observations are dangerous; words and narratives are not."

Refereeing an academic paper

The below list is 100% taken from the following sources; my only contribution is to mix them up into a three-page document. http://blogs.worldbank.org/impactevaluations/how-much-to-referee-and-how-to-do-it http://marginalrevolution.com/marginalrevolution/2006/10/how_to_be_a_goo.html http://chrisblattman.com/files/2009/07/PLSC508-Syllabus-Spring2010.pdf http://www.roie.org/howr.pdf Nevertheless, may prove useful. Additions, of course, welcome. Assume that no referee reports are truly anonymous.  It is fine to be critical but always be polite. Skim the paperContinue reading "Refereeing an academic paper"

the onion theory of communication (doing surveys)

without too much detail, i'll just note that i spent more time in the hospital in undergrad than i would have preferred. often times, i, being highly unintelligent, would wait until things got really bad and then finally decide one night it was time to visit the ER - uncomfortable but not non-functional or incoherent.Continue reading "the onion theory of communication (doing surveys)"

Read it, understand it, believe it, use it

Really helpful, still digesting!

Mo money, mo problems? AMF does not make Givewell’s top-three for 2013 #giving season

This blog is a cross-post with Suvojit. Update 21 December: the conversation has also continued here. Recently, Givewell has revised its recommendation on one of its previously top-ranked ‘charities,’ the Against Malaria Foundation (AMF), which focuses on well-tracked distributions of bednets.  Givewell “find[s] outstanding giving opportunities and publish the full details of our analysis toContinue reading "Mo money, mo problems? AMF does not make Givewell’s top-three for 2013 #giving season"

see wound, insert (new, improved, foreign) salt

perhaps like many people in public health, i take the fortification of salt with iodine - the prevention of several thyroid-related disorders and the widespread return of the neck ruff - as one of public/global health's major achievements. up there with smallpox, water treatment (for sanitation and potentially with fluoride) and really-we-are-nearly-there-but-stuff-keeps-happening polio. the WHO declared aContinue reading "see wound, insert (new, improved, foreign) salt"