Sam Carter
@samicart.bsky.social
Senior AI Policy Manager at J-PAL. Helping bring rigorous evidence to the conversation on "AI for Good."
Willingness Toupee (McEvoy et al. 2019) has a new competitor for "Sam's favorite silly paper" in What's Brown and Sticky? (Silvia and Burnett 2025). doi.org/10.31234/osf...
OSF
doi.org
November 22, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Willingness Toupee (McEvoy et al. 2019) has a new competitor for "Sam's favorite silly paper" in What's Brown and Sticky? (Silvia and Burnett 2025). doi.org/10.31234/osf...
AI for social good! What does existing rigorous evidence tell us about the most promising opportunities for AI to fulfill its potential? On the @j-pal.bsky.social blog, we outline six pathways:
November 5, 2025 at 11:42 PM
AI for social good! What does existing rigorous evidence tell us about the most promising opportunities for AI to fulfill its potential? On the @j-pal.bsky.social blog, we outline six pathways:
Consider yourself lucky if this doesn't frighten you. It's a nightmare on the Northeast Regional Corridor.
October 6, 2025 at 10:57 PM
Consider yourself lucky if this doesn't frighten you. It's a nightmare on the Northeast Regional Corridor.
Recently unearthed my favorite tweet in the history of twitter, posting here so I never lose it again (hi @mosenkis.bsky.social )
July 31, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Recently unearthed my favorite tweet in the history of twitter, posting here so I never lose it again (hi @mosenkis.bsky.social )
This looks like a phenomenal resource!
Econ instructors: considering running an RCT but unsure where to start?
My new working paper (w/ @lizschroeder.bsky.social) can guide you.
We walk you through all the steps to run an RCT: design, setup, implementation & analysis, w/ many examples along the way. 1/2 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
My new working paper (w/ @lizschroeder.bsky.social) can guide you.
We walk you through all the steps to run an RCT: design, setup, implementation & analysis, w/ many examples along the way. 1/2 papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Using Rcts in Economic Education Research
Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have become an essential tool for economists. The credibility revolution in empirical economics emphasizes research designs
papers.ssrn.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:36 PM
This looks like a phenomenal resource!
“the food marked for destruction could have met the nutritional needs of every child facing acute food insecurity in Gaza for a week”
"Five months into its unprecedented dismantling of foreign-aid programs, the Trump administration has given the order to incinerate food instead of sending it to people who need it"
@hana-kiros.bsky.social, on spending $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
@hana-kiros.bsky.social, on spending $130,000 to burn food worth $800,000
www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...
The Trump Administration Is About to Incinerate 500 Tons of Emergency Food
Federal workers warned for months that the high-energy biscuits would go to waste.
www.theatlantic.com
July 15, 2025 at 1:19 PM
“the food marked for destruction could have met the nutritional needs of every child facing acute food insecurity in Gaza for a week”
No words for this hypocrisy. These people sacrificed millions of human lives, decades of progress against the world’s toughest challenges, and our country’s soft power—all while COSTING Americans $6B.
news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
USAID Shutdown Costs Top $6 Billion, Internal Estimate Shows
The estimate, included in a seven-page memo prepared for Secretary of State Marco Rubio, raises questions about how much President Donald Trump will ultimately save taxpayers by closing USAID and othe...
news.bgov.com
June 26, 2025 at 10:16 PM
No words for this hypocrisy. These people sacrificed millions of human lives, decades of progress against the world’s toughest challenges, and our country’s soft power—all while COSTING Americans $6B.
news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
news.bgov.com/bloomberg-go...
Reposted by Sam Carter
1. Trump's tax cuts overwhelmingly help the rich
2. His spending cuts are targeted at the poor
3. Tariffs cost the poor a larger share of their income
Roll these three regressive policies together and you get the largest redistribution from poor to rich in American history.
The anti-Robin Hood.
2. His spending cuts are targeted at the poor
3. Tariffs cost the poor a larger share of their income
Roll these three regressive policies together and you get the largest redistribution from poor to rich in American history.
The anti-Robin Hood.
June 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
1. Trump's tax cuts overwhelmingly help the rich
2. His spending cuts are targeted at the poor
3. Tariffs cost the poor a larger share of their income
Roll these three regressive policies together and you get the largest redistribution from poor to rich in American history.
The anti-Robin Hood.
2. His spending cuts are targeted at the poor
3. Tariffs cost the poor a larger share of their income
Roll these three regressive policies together and you get the largest redistribution from poor to rich in American history.
The anti-Robin Hood.
Reposted by Sam Carter
📅 On June 12, join @hanshengchia.bsky.social, Samantha Carter, & Farhan Abrol for a @voxdev.bsky.social event exploring the potential applications of AI. W/ @cgdev.org, @j-pal.bsky.social & @agencyfund.bsky.social.
Register! ⬇️
cepr-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Register! ⬇️
cepr-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: AI for Good? Evaluating the Impact of AI in Development. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.
Organisations looking to use AI for development are concerned about the potential for errors and biases when using AI in high-stakes situations.
In this webinar, a collaboration with the Center for G...
cepr-org.zoom.us
May 29, 2025 at 9:45 PM
📅 On June 12, join @hanshengchia.bsky.social, Samantha Carter, & Farhan Abrol for a @voxdev.bsky.social event exploring the potential applications of AI. W/ @cgdev.org, @j-pal.bsky.social & @agencyfund.bsky.social.
Register! ⬇️
cepr-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Register! ⬇️
cepr-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Excellent podcast summarizing both a new RCT (tinyurl.com/findingtalen...) and the general discussion on "AI for the Global South." Two things I particularly liked:
“If more people get engaged, I’m hoping economists, AI engineers, and policymaker get together and try to tackle social problems… maybe there’s a lot of low-hanging fruit that’s available.” David Yanagizawa-Drott on using AI in policy research:
🆕 What role can (should) economists play in shaping the future of AI? 📢
Today on VoxDevTalks, David Yanagizawa-Drott (@econ.uzh.ch) discusses how economists should think about the future of AI: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD7-...
Today on VoxDevTalks, David Yanagizawa-Drott (@econ.uzh.ch) discusses how economists should think about the future of AI: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tD7-...
May 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Excellent podcast summarizing both a new RCT (tinyurl.com/findingtalen...) and the general discussion on "AI for the Global South." Two things I particularly liked:
“Behavioral economist Sendhil Mullainathan has never forgotten the pleasure he felt the first time he tasted a delicious crisp, yet gooey Levain cookie" is an excellent lede
computing.mit.edu/news/the-swe...
computing.mit.edu/news/the-swe...
The sweet taste of a new idea - MIT Schwarzman College of Computing
Behavioral economist Sendhil Mullainathan has never forgotten the pleasure he felt the first time he tasted a delicious crisp, yet gooey Levain cookie. He compares the experience to when he encounters...
computing.mit.edu
May 21, 2025 at 9:44 PM
“Behavioral economist Sendhil Mullainathan has never forgotten the pleasure he felt the first time he tasted a delicious crisp, yet gooey Levain cookie" is an excellent lede
computing.mit.edu/news/the-swe...
computing.mit.edu/news/the-swe...
Reposted by Sam Carter
USAID cuts have left major aid programs without funding. @cgdev.org is now hosting a team analyzing which ex-USAID programs are most cost-effective—and connecting them with donors willing to step in.
Learn more in @npr.org:
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Learn more in @npr.org:
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
A matchmaking service with a twist: Connecting big givers to programs cut by USAID
A former USAID worker has a new mission. She's hoping to connect philanthropists with overseas programs that have lost — or are likely to lose — their U.S. funding.
www.npr.org
May 14, 2025 at 10:56 PM
USAID cuts have left major aid programs without funding. @cgdev.org is now hosting a team analyzing which ex-USAID programs are most cost-effective—and connecting them with donors willing to step in.
Learn more in @npr.org:
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Learn more in @npr.org:
www.npr.org/sections/goa...
Reposted by Sam Carter
If it looks like the intervention you evaluated didn't work, what does that really mean? blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva... My summary of a taxonomy by Glewwe & Muralidharan #throwbackthursday
May 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
If it looks like the intervention you evaluated didn't work, what does that really mean? blogs.worldbank.org/en/impacteva... My summary of a taxonomy by Glewwe & Muralidharan #throwbackthursday
Reposted by Sam Carter
Great interview with @deankarlan.bsky.social! On generalizability (it matters but it's solvable), whether RCTs really are too slow (no, the eval method doesn't determine timelines, the outcomes of interest do), agency (exciting, need more research), etc.
Are international development programs effective? It’s a question that’s been making headlines. We spoke with Dean Karlan—founder of @poverty-action.bsky.social and professor at Northwestern about what’s been learned through RCTs and what’s next: open.substack.com/pub/theagenc...
Doing by Learning
Q&A with Dean Karlan on evidence, technology, and the RCT movement’s next frontiers
open.substack.com
April 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Great interview with @deankarlan.bsky.social! On generalizability (it matters but it's solvable), whether RCTs really are too slow (no, the eval method doesn't determine timelines, the outcomes of interest do), agency (exciting, need more research), etc.
If you find yourself confused by, tired of, and/or wanting more conversation about "evaluation" in AI, fear not! A new, practical framework from @theagencyfund.bsky.social is here. Hans @cgdev.org and I love it, and are helping to spread the word!
“Evaluation” is a vague term in AI — and that’s a problem.
This new piece offers a clear framework for sequencing evaluations of AI for good so we can better assess what matters, when, and why.👇
theagencyfund.substack.com/p/an-ai-eval...
By @agencyfund.bsky.social w @samicart.bsky.social & others
This new piece offers a clear framework for sequencing evaluations of AI for good so we can better assess what matters, when, and why.👇
theagencyfund.substack.com/p/an-ai-eval...
By @agencyfund.bsky.social w @samicart.bsky.social & others
An AI Evaluation Framework for the Development Sector
By Han Sheng Chia, CGD; Samantha Carter, J-PAL; Farhan Abrol, Temina Madon, Robert On, James Walsh, Zezhen Wu, The Agency Fund
theagencyfund.substack.com
April 16, 2025 at 10:58 PM
If you find yourself confused by, tired of, and/or wanting more conversation about "evaluation" in AI, fear not! A new, practical framework from @theagencyfund.bsky.social is here. Hans @cgdev.org and I love it, and are helping to spread the word!
Just came across this piece, and agree with it wholeheartedly! "Governments must realign incentives [from the current focus on automation] to encourage AI that serves social needs, such as enhancing education, improving health outcomes, and tackling climate challenges."
The few countries spearheading AI technologies are investing billions of dollars in labor-replacing applications that will exacerbate inequality.
Policymakers need to step in to change the incentives, Shamika Sirimanne and @odid-qeh.bsky.social's Xiaolan Fu argue.
Policymakers need to step in to change the incentives, Shamika Sirimanne and @odid-qeh.bsky.social's Xiaolan Fu argue.
Will AI Close or Widen the Development Gap? | by Shamika Sirimanne & Xiaolan Fu - Project Syndicate
Shamika Sirimanne & Xiaolan Fu call for multilateral action and grassroots pressure to ensure that the technology serves all countries.
www.project-syndicate.org
April 11, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Just came across this piece, and agree with it wholeheartedly! "Governments must realign incentives [from the current focus on automation] to encourage AI that serves social needs, such as enhancing education, improving health outcomes, and tackling climate challenges."
Reposted by Sam Carter
What do we get wrong (i.e. misperceive) about the world? Why does it matter? How does fixing misperceptions improve society?
Research on @voxdev.bsky.social has answered all these questions and more, documenting a series of misperceptions that can be fixed 🧵
Research on @voxdev.bsky.social has answered all these questions and more, documenting a series of misperceptions that can be fixed 🧵
April 7, 2025 at 2:57 PM
What do we get wrong (i.e. misperceive) about the world? Why does it matter? How does fixing misperceptions improve society?
Research on @voxdev.bsky.social has answered all these questions and more, documenting a series of misperceptions that can be fixed 🧵
Research on @voxdev.bsky.social has answered all these questions and more, documenting a series of misperceptions that can be fixed 🧵
Reposted by Sam Carter
Worried about the people hurt by Trump’s cuts?
@sigalsamuel.bsky.social has curated some great resources for how to help:
@sigalsamuel.bsky.social has curated some great resources for how to help:
3 ways you can help the people hurt by Trump’s foreign aid cuts
The president took away life-saving aid. You can give some of it back.
www.vox.com
March 15, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Worried about the people hurt by Trump’s cuts?
@sigalsamuel.bsky.social has curated some great resources for how to help:
@sigalsamuel.bsky.social has curated some great resources for how to help:
Reposted by Sam Carter
“The world must now affirm that human lives matter, no matter where they are.” In a new op-ed, Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo call for governments, multilaterals, and philanthropists to double down on investing in evidence-backed programs that improve people’s lives. www.ft.com/content/43e9...
Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo: Foreign aid can be effective without the US
In the wake of USAID cuts, wealthy nations and individuals must take the reins
www.ft.com
March 6, 2025 at 3:52 PM
“The world must now affirm that human lives matter, no matter where they are.” In a new op-ed, Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo call for governments, multilaterals, and philanthropists to double down on investing in evidence-backed programs that improve people’s lives. www.ft.com/content/43e9...
Reposted by Sam Carter
Your tax dollars did amazing things.
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
February 28, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Your tax dollars did amazing things.
Another op-ed by someone whose ACTUAL JOB was making US govt. more efficient, for everyone's benefit. "Our work was about trying to learn how to make government work better and more efficiently. I would have been very open to investigate the questions they had, but I didn’t have an opportunity to."
"It just became very clear early on that there was no interest in any of the work we were doing." minnesotareformer.com/2025/02/26/t...
This OPM data scientist was making government more efficient. Trump is firing people like him. • Minnesota Reformer
Ben Jaques-Leslie is a data scientist with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management based in St. Paul who worked on internal programs to make the agency more efficient and transparent. He took the Trum...
minnesotareformer.com
February 27, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Another op-ed by someone whose ACTUAL JOB was making US govt. more efficient, for everyone's benefit. "Our work was about trying to learn how to make government work better and more efficiently. I would have been very open to investigate the questions they had, but I didn’t have an opportunity to."
How can AI be used for social good? A new piece in Nature highlights a few examples (1/n)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Can AI help beat poverty? Researchers test ways to aid the poorest people
Measuring poverty is the first step to delivering support, but it has long been a costly, time-intensive and contentious endeavour.
www.nature.com
February 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
How can AI be used for social good? A new piece in Nature highlights a few examples (1/n)
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/d41...