The Illusion of Sustainability
Michael Kremer and Edward Miguel used a randomised evaluation of a Kenyan deworming programme to estimate peer effects in technology adoption and to examine donors' move towards sustainable community provision of public goods. People were less likely to take deworming if their social contacts were exposed to it, and a drug cost-recovery programme reduced take-up sharply, while health education did not change behaviour. The authors conclude it is unrealistic in this context for a one-time intervention to generate sustainable voluntary provision.
Michael Kremer and Edward Miguel used a randomised evaluation of a Kenyan deworming programme to estimate peer effects in technology adoption and to examine donors' move towards sustainable community provision of public goods. People were less likely to take deworming if their social contacts were exposed to it, and a drug cost-recovery programme reduced take-up sharply, while health education did not change behaviour. The authors conclude it is unrealistic in this context for a one-time intervention to generate sustainable voluntary provision.
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Kremer, M., & Miguel, E. (2007). 'The Illusion of Sustainability.' Quarterly Journal of Economics, 122(3), 1007-1065. doi:10.1162/qjec.122.3.1007