Hi John,

I’m writing to share with you our brand-new 3-minute animated film “The Ripple Effect,” which highlights how investments in R&D are critical to ensuring aid and government spending are effective, and how those initial investments can have a multiplier effect, rippling out to reach millions.

In the film, we use the example of malaria bednets. For years, many public health organizations charged a small price for bednets—which shield people from mosquito bites at night and are one of the most effective ways to prevent malaria—because they believed they wouldn’t be valued if they were free. Researchers Jessica Cohen and Pascaline Dupas worked with IPA to evaluate how giving out bednets for free compared to charging a small price for them. We found that charging just a small fee of $0.60 reduced the number of people who received and used them by 60 percentage points. The findings of this research have led to policy changes that have rippled out across Africa, saving the lives of tens of thousands of children, likely many more.

With rigorous research, we find out what actually works (and what doesn’t). We hope you enjoy learning how the ripple effect multiplies investments.