This article provides an introduction to the concepts and methods of impact evaluation. The author provides an intuitive explanation in the context of a concrete application. The article takes the form of a short story about a fictional character's on-the-job training in evaluation. Ms. Speedy Analyst is an economist in the Ministry of Finance in the fictional country of Labas. In the process of figuring out how to evaluate a human resource program targeted to the poor, Ms. Analyst learns the strengths and weaknesses of the main methods of ex post impact evaluation.
Bibliography: Ravallion, Martin. 2001. "Mystery of the Vanishing Benefits: An Introduction to Impact Evaluation." The World Bank Economic Review Vol. 15, No. 1: 115-140. World Bank, Washington, DC.
