Abstract
In 2009-2012, Blattman, Jamison, and Sheridan, worked with the Liberian NGO Network for Empowerment & Progressive Initiative (NEPI) and the research non-profit Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA) to study the impact of a short, inexpensive, intensive therapy program informed by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on young men’s violent and criminal behavior. Cash alone and therapy alone initially reduced crime and violence, but effects dissipated over time. When cash followed therapy, crime and violence decreased dramatically for at least a year (Blattman et al., 2017). Based on these promising findings, as well as those of a similar program in Chicago (Heller et al., 2016), CBT interventions have been replicated around the globe in efforts to reduce violence and criminal behavior. There is no long term evidence on these programs, however. This study is a ten-year follow-up in order to track long-term effects of the CBT and the cash interventions in Liberia.
Study ID sspp-2021-0020-v1
Authors
Christopher Blattman, Sebastian Chaskel, Julian Jamison, Margaret Sheridan
Discipline
Economics, Psychology, Political Science
Field
Applied Econometrics, Development Economics, Econometrics, Health Economics, Experimental Economics, Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Experimental Psychology, Behavioral Economics
Completion Time
10 Minutes
Close Date
July 18, 2021
Citation
Blattman, Christopher, Chaskel, Sebastian, Jamison, Julian, and Margaret Sheridan. 2021. "The Long Run Effects of a Program Aimed At Reducing Crime and Violence: Experimental Evidence from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Liberia." Social Science Prediction Platform. May 19.
https://socialscienceprediction.org/s/4e4000
Incentive Details
Incentive Type
Based on forecast accuracy
Calculation Method
Discrete: Fixed payment if forecast is within bounds
Recipient Pool
Everyone receives the incentives
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