Prof. Dr. Sebastian Vollmer
Sebastian Vollmer is Professor of Development Economics and currently serves as Director of the Centre for Modern Indian Studies at the University of Göttingen. His research examines the linkages between poverty and health in low- and middle-income countries. Sebastian Vollmer studied Mathematics and Economics at the University of Göttingen and also received his PhD in Economics from the University of Göttingen. He was Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Harvard University, Visiting Assistant Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College and Adjunct Professor of Global Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He has worked as a consultant for the World Bank, UNICEF, UNDP, UNESCO, FAO and several other organizations. He has published more than 100 articles in peer-reviewed journals (including Quarterly Journal of Economics, Review of Economics and Statistics, The Lancet, The Lancet Global Health and The BMJ). He is a principal investigator of the DFG RTG 2654 “Sustainable Food Systems”, the DFG Research Unit 2432 “Social-Ecological Systems in the Indian Rural-Urban Interface”, module coordinator of the BMBF Merian Centre “ICAS:MP – Metamorphoses of the Political” and was principal investigator of the former DFG RTG 1723 “Globalization and Development”. Professor Vollmer has received the KfW Development Bank Prize for Excellence in Applied Development Research and the Science Award of the German Society of Health Economics.CV
Selected Publications (Full List)
- Zhu J, Manne-Goehler J, Agarwal A, Bahendeka S, Damasceno A, Marcus M, Moghaddam S, Vollmer S, Huffman M, Flood D, on behalf of the HPACC Collaboration (forthcoming) Cardiovascular disease preventive medication use in 40 low- and middle-income countries. Journal of the American College of Cardiology
- Heemann M, Kim R, Sharma S, Vollmer S, Subramanian SV (2022) Food group consumption patterns among children meeting and not meeting WHO’s recommended dietary diversity: Evidence from 193,837 Children in 58 countries. Food Policy, 112: 102368
- Theilmann M, Lemp J, Winkler V, Manne-Goehler J, Marcus M, Probst P, Lopez-Arboleda W, Ebert C, Bommer C, Mathur M, Andall-Brereton G, Bahendeka S, Bovet P, Farzadfar F, Ghasemi E, Mayige M, Moghaddam S, Mwangi K, Naderimagham S, Sturua L, Atun R, Davies J, Bärnighausen T, Vollmer S*, Geldsetzer P* (2022) Patterns of tobacco use in low- and middle-income countries by tobacco product and sociodemographic characteristics: a study of nationally representative survey data from 82 countries. The BMJ, 378: e067582 (* joint last authors)
- Xu Y, Geldsetzer P, Manne-Goehler J, Theilmann M, Marcus M, Zhumadilov Z, Quesnel-Crooks S, Mwalim O, Saeedi Moghaddam S, Koolaji S, Karki K, Farzadfar F, Ebrahimi N, Damasceno A, Aryal K, Agoudavi K, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Davies J, Jaacks L, Vollmer S*, Probst C* (2022) The Socio-economic Gradient of Alcohol Use: An Analysis of Nationally Representative Survey Data from 55 Low- and Middle-income Countries. The Lancet Global Health, 10(9): e1268-e1280 (* joint last authors)
- Manne-Goehler J*, Theilmann M*, Flood D, Marcus M, Andall-Brereton G, Agoudavi K, Lopez W, Aryal K, Bicaba B, Bovet P, Brant LC, Brian G, Chamberlin G, Chen G, Damasceno A, Dorobantu M, Dunn M, Ebert C, Farzadfar F, Gurung M, Guwatudde D, Houehanou C, Houinato D, Hwalla N, Jørgensen J, Karki K, Labadarios D, Lunet N, Malta D, Martins J, Mayige M, Wong R, Saeedi Moghaddam S, Mwangi K, Mwalim O, Norov B, Quesnel-Crooks S, Rhode S, Seiglie J, Sibai A, Bahendeka S, Sturua L, Stokes A, Supiyev A, Tsabedze L, Zhumadilov Z, Jaacks L*, Atun R*, Davies J*, Geldsetzer P*, Vollmer S*, Bärnighausen T* (2022) Data Resource Profile: The Global Health and Population Project on Access to Care for Cardiometabolic diseases (HPACC). International Journal of Epidemiology, 51(6): e337–e349 (* equal contribution)
- Reuter A, Rogge L, Monahan M, Kachapila M, Morton DG, Davies J, Vollmer S on behalf of NIHR Global Surgery Collaboration (2022) The global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis. British Journal of Surgery, 109(10): 995–1003
- Klumpp M, Monfared IG, Vollmer S (2022) Public opinion on global distribution of COVID-19 vaccines: evidence from two nationally representative surveys in Germany and the United States. Vaccine, 40(16): 2457-2461
- Marcus M, Manne-Goehler J, Theilmann M, Farzadfar F, Moghaddam S, Keykhaei M, Hajebi A, Tschida S, Lemp J, Aryal K, Dunn M, Houehanou C, Silver B, Rohloff P, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Geldsetzer P, Ramirez-Zea M, Chopra V, Heisler M, Davies J, Huffman M, Vollmer S*, Flood D* (2022) Use of Statins for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in 41 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-Sectional Study of Nationally Representative, Individual-Level Data. The Lancet Global Health, 10(3): e369-e379 (* joint last authors)
- Ochmann S, Owolabi KE, Olatunji-David F, Okunlola N, Vollmer S (2022) The impact of grants in combination with school-based management trainings on primary education: A cluster-randomized trial in Northern Nigeria. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 14(3): 189-208
- Kirschbaum T, Sudharsanan N, Manne-Goehler J, De Neve J-W, Lemp J, Theilmann M, Marcus M, Ebert C, Chen S, Yoosefi M, Sibai A, Rouhifard M, Moghaddam S, Mayige M, Martins J, Lunet N, Jorgensen J, Houehanou C, Farzadfar F, Damasceno A, Bovet P, Bahendeka S, Aryal K, Andall-Brereton G, Davies J, Atun R, Vollmer S, Bärnighausen T, Jaacks L, Geldsetzer P (2022) The Association of Socioeconomic Status with Hypertension in 76 Low- and Middle- Income Countries. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 80(3): 804-817
- Ebert C, Vollmer S (2022) Girls unwanted: The role of parents’ child-specific sex preference for children’s early mental development. Journal of Health Economics, 82: 102590
- Steinert J, Vasumati Satish R, Stips F, Vollmer S (2022) Commitment or Concealment? Impacts and Use of a Portable Saving Device: Evidence from a Field Experiment in Urban India. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 193: 367–398
- Heldring L, Robinson J, Vollmer S (2021) The Long-Run Impact of the Dissolution of the English Monasteries. Quarterly Journal of Economics, 136(4): 2093–2145
- Kaplan L, Ichsan, Diba F, Marthoenis, Muhsin, Samadi, Richert K, Susanti S, Sofyan H, Vollmer S (2021) Impact of the World Health Organization Safe Childbirth Checklist on Quality of Care and Birth Outcomes in Aceh, Indonesia: A Cluster-Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Network Open, 4(12): e2137168
- Krämer M, Kumar S, Vollmer S (2021) Anemia, diet, and cognitive development: Impact of health information on diet quality and child nutrition in rural India. Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, 190: 495-523
- Krämer M, Kumar S, Vollmer S (2021) Improving Child Health and Cognition: Evidence from a School-Based Nutrition Intervention in India. Review of Economics and Statistics, 103(5): 818–834
- Marcus ME, Ebert C, Geldsetzer P, Theilmann M, Bicaba BW, Andall-Brereton G, Bovet P, Farzadfar F, Gurung MS, Houehanou C, Malekpour M-R, Martins JS, Moghaddam SS, Mohammadi E, Norov B, Quesnel-Crooks S, Wong-McClure R, Davies JI, Hlatky MA, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Jaacks LM, Manne-Goehler J, Vollmer S (2021) Unmet Need for Hypercholesterolemia Care in 35 Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Cross-sectional Study of Nationally-representative Surveys. PLOS Medicine, 18(10): e1003841
- Basu S, Flood D, Geldsetzer P, Theilmann M, Marcus M, Ebert C, Mayige M, Wong-McClure R, Farzadfar F, Moghaddam SS, Agoudavi K, Norov B, Houehanou C, Andall-Brereton G, Gurung M, Brian G, Bovet P, Martins J, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Vollmer S, Manne-Goehler J, Davies J (2021) Estimated effect of increased diagnosis, treatment, and control of diabetes and its associated cardiovascular risk factors among low-income and middle-income countries: a microsimulation model. The Lancet Global Health, 9(11): e1539-e1552
- Teufel F, Seiglie JA, Geldsetzer P, Theilmann M, Marcus M, Ebert C, Agoudavi K, Andall-Brereton G, Aryal KK, Bicaba BW, Brian G, Bovet P, Dorobantu M, Gathecha G, Gurung MS, Guwatudde D, Msaidié M, Houehanou C, Houinato D, Jorgensen J, Kagaruki GB, Karki KB, Labadarios D, Martins JS, Mayige MT, McClure RW, Mwangi JK, Mwalim O, Norov B, Quesnel-Crooks S, Silver BK, Sturua L, Tsabedze L, Wesseh CS, Stokes A, Essien UR, De Neve J-W, Atun R, Davies JI, Vollmer S, Bärnighausen T, Ali MK, Meigs JB, Wexler DJ, Manne-Goehler J (2021) Body mass index and diabetes risk in 57 low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of nationally-representative individual-level data. The Lancet, 398: 238-248
- Peiris D, Ghosh A, Manne-Goehler J, Jaacks LM, Theilmann M, Marcus M, Zhumadilov Z, Wesseh CS, Tsabedze L, Supiyev A, Sturua L, Silver BK, Sibai AM, Quesnel-Crooks S, Pelam DA, Norov B, Mwangi JK, Mwalim O, Wong-McClure R, Mayige MT, Martins JS, Lunet N, Labadarios D, Karki KB, Kagaruki GB, Jorgensen JM, Hwalla NC, Houinato D, Houehanou C, Msaidié M, Guwatudde D, Gurung MS, Gathecha G, Damasceno A, Bicaba BW, Aryal KK, Andall-Brereton G, Agoudavi K, McKenzie B, Webster J, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Vollmer S, Davies JI, Geldsetzer P (2021) Cardiovascular disease risk profile and management practices in 45 low-income and middle-income countries: a cross sectional study of nationally representative individual-level survey data from 600,484 adults. PLOS Medicine, 18(3): e1003485
- Bischops AC, de Neve JW, Awasthi A, Vollmer S, Bärnighausen T, Geldsetzer P (2020) A cross-sectional study of cardiovascular disease risk clustering at different socio-geographic levels in India. Nature Communications, 11: 5891
- Bommer C, Horn S, Vollmer S (2020) The effect of routine probiotics supplementation on preterm newborn health: a regression discontinuity analysis. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 112(5): 1219–1227
- Lemp J, De Neve JW, Bussmann H, Chen S,Manne-Goehler J, Theilmann M, Marcus M, Ebert C, Probst C, Tsabedze L, Sturua L, Kibachio JM, Moghaddam S, Martins JS, Houinato D, Houehanou C, Gurung MS, Gathecha G, Farzadfar F, Dryden-Peterson S, Davies JI, Atun R, Vollmer S, Bärnighausen T, Geldsetzer P (2020) Lifetime Prevalence of Cervical Cancer Screening in 55 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. JAMA, 324(15): 1532–1542
- Li Z, Kim R, Vollmer S, Subramanian SV (2020) Factors Associated with Child Stunting, Wasting, and Underweight in 35 Low- and Middle-Income Countries. JAMA Network Open, 3(4): e203386
- Seiglie JA, Marcus M, Ebert C, Prodromidis N, Geldsetzer P, Theilmann M, Agoudavi K, Andall-Brereton G, Aryal KK, Bicaba BW, Bovet P, Brian G, Dorobantu M, Gathecha G, Singh Gurung M, Guwatudde D, Msaidie M, Houe-hanou C, Houinato D, Jorgensen JMA, Kagaruki GB, Karki KB, Labadarios D, Martins JS, Mayige MT, McClure RW, Mwangi JK, Mwalim O, Norov B, Quesnel-Crooks S, Silver BK, Sturua L, Tsabedze L, Wesseh CS, Stokes A, Atun R, Davies JI, Vollmer S, Bärnighausen T, Jaacks L, Meigs J, Wexler DJ, Manne-Goehler J (2020) Diabetes prevalence and its relationship with education, wealth, and BMI in 29 low- and middle-income countries. Diabetes Care, 43(4): 767-775
- Bommer C, Mittal N, Vollmer S (2020) The Impact of Nutritional Interventions on Child Health and Cognitive Development. Annual Review of Resource Economics, 12: 345–366
- Ogbuoji O, Vollmer S, Jamison D, Bärnighausen T (2020) Economic consequences of better health: insights from clinical data. The BMJ, 370: m2186
- Deichmann U, Reuter A, Vollmer S, Zhang F (2019) Relationship between Energy Intensity and Economic Growth New Evidence from a Multi‐Country Multi‐Sector Data Set. World Development, 124: 104664
- Geldsetzer P, Manne-Goehler J, Marcus M, Ebert C, Zhumadilov Z, Wesseh CS, Tsabedze L, Supiyev A, Sturua L, Silver BK, Sibai AM, Quesnel-Crooks S, Norov B, Mwangi JK, Mwalim O, McClure RW, Mayige MT, Martins JS, Lunet N, Labadarios D, Karki KB, Kagaruki GB, Jorgensen JMA, Hwalla NC, Houinato D, Houehanou C, Msaidié M, Guwatudde D, Gurung MS, Gathecha G, Dorobantu M, Damasceno A, Bovet P, Bicaba BW, Aryal KA, Andall-Brereton G, Agoudavi K, Stokes A, Davies JI, Bärnighausen T*, Atun R*, Vollmer S*, Jaacks LM* (2019) The state of hypertension care in 44 low- and middle-income countries: a cross-sectional study of individual-level nationally representative data from 1.1 million adults. The Lancet, 394: 652-662 (* joint last authors)
- Manne-Goehler J, Geldsetzer P, Agoudavi K, Andall-Brereton G, Aryal KK, Bicaba BW, Bovet P, Brian G, Dorobantu M, Gathecha G, Gurung MS, Guwatudde D, Msaidie M, Houehanou C, Houinato D, Jorgensen JMA, Kagaruki GB, Karki KB, Labadarios D, Martins JS, Mayige MT, McClure RW, Mwalim O, Mwangi JK, Norov B, Quesnel-Crooks S, Silver BK, Sturua L, Tsabedze L, Wesseh CS, Stokes A, Marcus M, Ebert C, Davies JI*, Vollmer S*, Atun R*, Bärnighausen T*, Jaacks L* (2019) Health system performance for people with diabetes in 28 low- and middle-income countries: A cross-sectional study of nationally representative surveys. PLOS Medicine, 16(3): e1002751 (* joint last authors)
- Prenissl J, Manne-Goehler J, Jaacks LM, Prabhakaran D, Awasthi A, Bischops AC, Atun R*, Bärnighausen T*, Davies JI*, Vollmer S*, Geldsetzer P* (2019) Hypertension screening, awareness, treatment, and control in India: A nationally representative cross-sectional study among individuals aged 15 to 49 years. PLOS Medicine, 16(5): e1002801 (* joint last authors)
- Prenissl J, Jaacks LM, Mohan V, Manne-Goehler J, Davies JI, Awasthi A, Bischops AC, Atun R*, Bärnighausen T*, Vollmer S*, Geldsetzer P* (2019) Variation in health system performance for managing diabetes among states in India: A cross-sectional study of individuals aged 15 to 49 years. BMC Medicine, 17: 92 (* joint last authors)
- Minasyan A, Zenker J, Klasen S, Vollmer S (2019) Educational Gender Gaps and Economic Growth: A Systematic Review and Meta-Regression Analysis. World Development 122: 199-217
- Geldsetzer P, Manne-Goehler J, Theilmann M, Davies JI, Awasthi A, Danaei G, Gaziano TA, Vollmer S*, Jaacks LM*, Bärnighausen T*, Atun R* (2018) Geographic and sociodemographic variation of cardiovascular disease risk in India: A cross-sectional study of 797,540 adults. PLOS Medicine, 15(6): e1002581 (* joint last authors)
- Geldsetzer P, Manne-Goehler J, Theilmann M, Davies JI, Awasthi A, Vollmer S*, Jaacks LM*, Bärnighausen T*, Atun R* (2018) Diabetes and hypertension in India: A nationally representative study of 1.3 million adults. JAMA Internal Medicine, 178(3): 363-372 (* joint last authors)
- Steinert JI, Cluver LD, Meinck F, Doubt J, Vollmer S (2018) Household Economic Strengthening through Financial and Psychosocial Programming: Evidence from a Field Experiment in South Africa. Journal of Development Economics, 134: 443-466
- Zenker J, Wagener A, Vollmer S (2018) Better Knowledge Need Not Affect Behavior: A Randomized Evaluation of the Demand for Lottery Tickets in Rural Thailand. World Bank Economic Review, 32(3): 570–583
- Bommer C, Sagalova V, Heesemann E, Manne-Goehler J, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Davies JI, Vollmer S (2018) Global economic burden of diabetes in adults: projections from 2015-2030. Diabetes Care, 41(5): 963-970
- Atun R, Davies JI, Gale EA, Bärnighausen T, Beran D, Kengne AP, Levitt NS, Mangugu FW, Nyirenda MJ, Ogle GD, Ramaiya K, Sewankambo NK, Sobngwi E, Tesfaye S, Yudkin JS, Basu S, Bommer C, Heesemann E, Manne-Goehler J, Postolovska I, Sagalova V, Vollmer S, Abbas ZG, Ammon B, Angamo MT, Annamreddi A, Awasthi A, Besançon S, Bhadriraju S, Binagwaho A, Burgess PI, Burton MJ, Chai J, Chilunga FP, Chipendo P, Conn A, Dipesalema JR, Eagan AW, Gishoma C, Ho J, Jong S, Kakarmath SS, Khan Y, Kharel R, Kyle MA, Lee SL, Lichtman A, Malm CP, Mbaye MN, Muhimpundu MA, Mwagomba BM, Mwangi KJ, Nair M, Niyonsenga SP, Njuguna B, Okafor OL, Okunade O, Park PH, Pastakia SD, Pekny C, Reja A, Rotimi CN, Rwunganira S, Sando D, Sarriera G, Sharma A, Sidibé A, Siraj ES, Syed AS, van Acker K, Werfalli M (2017) Diabetes in sub-Saharan Africa - from clinical care to health policy. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 5(8): 622-667
- Bommer C, Heesemann E, Sagalova V, Manne-Goehler J, Atun R, Bärnighausen T, Vollmer S (2017) The Global Economic Burden of Diabetes in Adults aged 20 to 79: A Cost-of-Illness Study. The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology, 5(6): 423-430
- Bärnighausen T, Oldenburg C, Tugwell P, Bommer C, Ebert C, Barreto M, Djimeu E, Haber N, Waddington H, Rockers P, Sianesi B, Bor J, Fink G, Valentine J, Tanner J, Stanley T, Sierra E, Tchetgen ET, Atun R, Vollmer S (2017) Quasi-experimental study designs series: assessing the assumptions. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 89: 53-66
- Vollmer S, Harttgen K, Kupka R, Subramanian SV (2017) Levels and trends of childhood undernutrition by wealth and education according to a composite index of anthropometric failure: Evidence from 146 Demographic and Health Surveys from 39 countries. BMJ Global Health, 2(2): e000206
- Fink G, Victora C, Harttgen K, Vollmer S, Vidaletti LP, Barros AJD (2017) Measuring Socioeconomic Inequalities with Predicted Absolute Incomes rather than Wealth Quintiles: A Comparative Assessment using Child Stunting Data from National Surveys. American Journal of Public Health, 107(4): 550-555
- Vollmer S, Bommer C, Krishna A, Harttgen K, Subramanian SV (2017) The Association of Parental Education with Childhood Undernutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Comparing the Role of Paternal and Maternal Education. International Journal of Epidemiology, 46(1): 312-323
- Krämer M, Kupka R, Subramanian SV, Vollmer S (2016) Association between household unavailability of iodized salt and child growth: evidence from 89 demographic and health surveys. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 104(4): 1093-1100
- Kumar S, Molitor R, Vollmer S (2016) Drought and Early Child Health in Rural India. Population and Development Review, 42(1): 53-68
- Strulik H, Vollmer S (2015) The Fertility Transition around the World. Journal of Population Economics, 28(1): 31-44
- Vollmer S, Harttgen K, Subramanyam MA, Finlay J, Klasen S, Subramanian SV (2014) Association between economic growth and early childhood undernutrition: evidence from 121 Demographic and Health Surveys from 36 low-income and middle-income countries. The Lancet Global Health, 2(4): e225-e234
- Harttgen K, Vollmer S (2014) A Reversal in the Relationship of Human Development with Fertility? Demography, 51(1): 173-184
- Fink G, McConnell M, Vollmer S (2014) Testing for Heterogeneous Treatment Effects in Experimental Data: False Discovery Risks and Correction Procedures. Journal of Development Effectiveness, 6(1): 44-57
- Harttgen K, Klasen S, Vollmer S (2013) An African Growth Miracle? Or: What do Asset Indices Tell us about Trends in Economic Performance? Review of Income and Wealth, 59(S1): S37-S61
- Strulik H, Vollmer S (2013) Long-Run Trends of Human Aging and Longevity. Journal of Population Economics, 26(4): 1303-1323
- Vollmer S, Holzmann H, Ketterer F, Klasen S, Canning D (2013) The Emergence of Three Human Development Clubs. PLOS ONE, 8(3): e57624
- Vollmer S, Holzmann H, Schwaiger F (2013) Peaks vs Components. Review of Development Economics, 17(2): 352-364
- Kumar S, Vollmer S (2013) Does Access to Improved Sanitation Reduce Childhood Diarrhea in Rural India? Health Economics, 22(4): 410-427
- Herzer D, Strulik H, Vollmer S (2012) The Long-Run Determinants of Fertility: One Century of Demographic Change 1900-1999. Journal of Economic Growth, 17(4): 357-385
- Holzmann H, Vollmer S (2008) A Likelihood Ratio Test for Bimodality in Two-Component Mixtures with Application to Regional Income Distribution in the EU. AStA Advances in Statistical Analysis, 92(1): 57-69
Selected Working Papers
- Wójcik J, Bommer C, Naeher D, Vollmer S (2022) The long-term consequences of the global 1918 influenza pandemic: A systematic analysis of census data from 51 countries. Courant Research Centre ‘Poverty, Equity and Growth’ Discussion Paper No. 292
- Ahmad A, Naeher D, Vollmer S (2022) The International Political Economy of Patent Buyouts . Courant Research Centre ‘Poverty, Equity and Growth’ Discussion Paper No. 290
- Heldring L, Robinson J, Vollmer S (2022) The Economic Effects of the English Parliamentary Enclosures. NBER Working Paper No. 29772
- Bogler L, Bommer C, Ebert C, Kumar A, Subramanian SV, Subramanyam M, Vollmer S (2022) Effects of a large-scale Participatory Learning and Action Programme in Women’s Groups on Health, Nutrition, Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene: a Cluster-Randomized Controlled Trial in Bihar, India. Courant Research Centre ‘Poverty, Equity and Growth’ Discussion Paper No. 287
- Marcus M, Reuter A, Rogge L, Vollmer S (2022) The Effect of SMS Reminders on Health Screening Uptake: A Randomized Experiment in Indonesia. Courant Research Centre ‘Poverty, Equity and Growth’ Discussion Paper No. 284
- Grafenstein L, Kumar A, Kumar S, Vollmer S (2021) Impacts of Double-Fortified Salt on Anemia and Cognition: Four-Year Follow-up Evidence from a School-Based Nutrition Intervention in India. Courant Research Centre ‘Poverty, Equity and Growth’ Discussion Paper No. 282
- Ebert C, Heesemann E, Vollmer S (2021) Two Interventions to Promote Health and Mental Development in Early Childhood: A Randomized Controlled Trial in Rual India. Courant Research Centre ‘Poverty, Equity and Growth’ Discussion Paper No. 276