How Research Affects Policy: Experimental Evidence from 2,150 Brazilian Municipalities

Can research findings change political leaders’ beliefs and policies? We use experiments with 2,150 Brazilian municipalities to measure mayors’ demand for response information. In one experiment, we find that mayors are willing pay learn the results of evaluation studies, update their when informed findings. They value larger-sample studies more, while not distinguishing between in rich poor countries. a second informing about on simple effective policy, taxpayer reminder letters, increases probability policy is implemented by 10 percentage points. (JEL D72, D78, D83, O17, O18)