Double Difference Approach to Impact Evaluation: Case of the Effects of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) on Poverty

Abstract

The Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program of the Philippines has been one of the major programs of the government since its implementation in 1988. Over the years,
a considerable amount of financial resources has been spent for the program that an impact evaluation is merited. Studies have established the impact of the program on some outcome variables like income and poverty. However, the studies done were limited to either a temporal comparison between the period before and after the program or a comparison between the beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries of the program. This study explored the double difference approach to verify the findings of the previous studies. The paper showed that the findings based on either the beforeafter or with-without comparison were not validated with the double difference approach. The paper recommends that further research be done with a more rigorous design to ensure validity of the estimation of the impacts of the program.