Social Policy: How do we Know What Works?

Abstract

This paper looks at the use of social experimentation as an evaluation tool to examine social policy. It is often used to examine causal relationships. The paper reviews the theory behind social experiments, and discusses advantages as well as possible limitations. The Progresa-Oportunidades program in Mexico is used as a case study to illustrate the usefulness of experiments as a tool for program evaluation. Progresa illustrates how social experiments work in practice, and the important role evaluations play. In Progresa’s case the positive results led to the continuation and expansion of the program after a historic change in government, and it is now Mexico’s principal anti-poverty strategy.