The Living Standards Measurement Study:Potential Uses in Impact Evaluation

Gero Carletto

Lead Economist

Development Economics Research Group

The World Bank

What is an LSMS?

• 30 plus-year-old global initiative in Development Reserach Group at the World Bank

• Main goals:- Gain a better understanding of the impact of policies and

programs on poverty reduction - Build in-country capacity in the design and implementation of

household surveys- Support methodological improvements in the measurement of key

indicators- Champion the dissemination and use of data and analytical

findings

What is an LSMS? (cont’d)

• Main features:- Nationally representative- Multi-topic (HD, labor, assets, nutrition, food security, …)- Consumption-based money metric to measure poverty- Open access- LSMS-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture

• Working in 7 countries in SSA• Panels• Focus on agriculture• Disaggregated (gender, plot)• Geo-referenced (hh, plots) for improved link to spatial data• Use of technology (GPS for land area, CAPI)

What are the issues?

• Beneficiary identification• Sample size• Timing• Randomization

- Identification strategy

Potential uses

• Oversample in project areas• Control group based on matching• Small area estimation (welfare measure)• Methodology

- Questionnaires- Data collection protocols- Validation e.g. poverty predictors, asset index, …

• On-going work in DECPI

Some recent examples …

• Malawi Fertilizer Input Subsidy Program using the Integrated Household Survey

• MCC Water Project in two districts using Tanzania National Panel Survey

Some final thoughts …

• LSMS is one tool in the evaluation toolbox• Offers many opportunities to inform IFAD’s theory of change agenda

• In terms of evaluation, synergies if ...- Plan ahead for best results and team up with

national team at time of project’s inception/design

- Clearly define “measurable” objectives- Identify target areas and intended beneficiaries- Think multiple identification strategies- Take advantage of expanding collection of

panels