2026 Nova SBE PhD Summer School: Development Economics

Course essentials
•    Theme: Practical issues in designing and analyzing field experiments
•    Dates: June 22-24, 2026
•    Instructor: David McKenzie, World Bank
•    Credits (ECTS): 3,5
•    Fees: 700€ (Participant) or 350€ (Nova SBE Alumni)
•    Application deadline: March 31

More Information
•    Website with application link: https://bit.ly/3Oltomk. 

Course contents
This short course focuses on many of the issues that come up in designing and analyzing field experiments, that are often not so well covered in standard textbooks or in final research papers. We will start with the different designs that can be used to randomize one or more treatments, and the pros and cons to consider when choosing between these approaches. We will follow this with discussion of the use of pre-analysis plans and registered reports. The course will then turn to one of the key challenges facing all experiments- ensuring that there is sufficient statistical power to detect impacts. We will go through how to do a power calculation and how to avoid the typical ways this is done poorly, as well as different methods for boosting power. We conclude with discussions of multiple testing and with practical issues that arise in implementation of field experiments.

Eligibility
The course is open to PhD students (local and international), postgraduate, and professionals who wish to widen their knowledge on development economics.
There is a limited number of seats available to participate. Thus, we recommend submitting your application as beforehand as possible according to the indicated deadlines.

Application
•    First Round Evaluation
The PhD Summer School team will evaluate all complete applications received by March 15 and may make a first round of admissions offers. A second round of offers is made after the application deadline.

•    Payment of the course fee
Nova SBE will notify the summer school´s applicants via the email they provided on the application form. Students who are accepted will receive a link to pay via credit card.

•    Documentations
You will be asked to upload your CV and – if you are enrolled in a PhD/Postgraduate program – an official letter/document issued from your home university stating you are a student. You will also need to provide a paragraph explaining why you wish to attend the PhD Summer School.
Master alumni will need to upload their Master transcript when applying.

Please note that incomplete applications will not be processed.