Hidden traps of RCTs in a business context – what you should be aware of
Christina Ungerer from the IST institute at Constance University of Applied Sciences explores the hidden traps of RCTs after their IGL-funded trial into business coaching.
Blog
Read the latest blogs from the IGL network.
Using experimental evidence for policymaking: comparative analysis of results obtained from experimental and non-experimental methods in the IEG field
Despite the importance of entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to economic growth, very little policy supporting the growth of these industries is subjected to rigorous evaluation. This blog from the London School of Economic Capstone project seeks to explore why.
What the Horizon 2020 Innosup programme can teach us about RCTs: The lessons
Part two of our two-part blog series on the insights gained from innovation agencies designing new or improved policy schemes supporting SME innovation, and testing these using randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We share what can be taken away for future innovation policy when evaluating business support programmes.
What the Horizon 2020 Innosup programme can teach us about RCTs: The challenges
In this post, we summarise some challenges that innovation agencies have faced when designing new or improved policy schemes supporting SME innovation, and testing these using randomised controlled trials (RCTs). We share what does and doesn’t work for future innovation policy when evaluating business support programmes.
Enterprise and employment growth: youth trainings and mentorship in Tanzania
Youth account for 60% of the unemployed in Africa. One approach to increasing employment among youth is to provide training and mentoring for young people to help them find jobs or start new businesses. This study evaluates the impact of a training and mentorship program with a robust long-term support component on Tanzanian youth’s employment, entrepreneurial activities, and self-confidence.
Expanding access to microcredit in Egypt
In this IGL funded trial, the team outline the scope of their research into microcredit and the impact of larger loads for high potential businesses.
Perspective and Idea Generation
Which is better for innovation: taking your perspective or that of someone else? In this IGL-funded trial Charlie Ebert outlines the first findings from their research, which has produced some surprising results.
Support for businesses and innovators in the time of Covid-19: The role of innovation agencies
By now it is clear that the Covid-19 pandemic is much more than a global health crisis. In this blog, Marieke Goettsch and Alex Glennie outline the impact Covid-19 has had on innovation, and the role innovation agencies can play in the recovery effort.
“Act Fast and Do Whatever It Takes”: Leading economists’ recommendations for business support during COVID-19
In this post, we collect insights from the book which we hope will be particularly useful for policymakers designing crisis support for businesses, and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in particular, during this time.
5 things I didn't know about IGL before joining
Marieke Goettsch reflects on her first year at the Innovation Growth Lab with the five things she didn't know about IGL before joining.
IGL for Equal
Our team at the Innovation Growth Lab is quite international, but there is one thing we all shared growing up, whether we went to school in Germany, Spain, Hungary or the UK: our school textbooks almost exclusively featured straight, white men. They were the heros, poets, artists, scientists and revolutionaries - women, and especially people with different sexual or gender identities were largely invisible.
IGL Working Paper Series Launch
This month, we’re delighted to launch the IGL Working Paper Series. Our new series of working papers will showcase interesting trials in the fields of innovation, entrepreneurship and business growth, alongside those funded by the IGL Grants Programme, in partnership with the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Argidius Foundation.