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News, ideas, and analysis from J-PAL staff and affiliated professors. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly email updates.

Child laughing with parents and holding a spoon

Fostering early child development to alleviate poverty in Guatemala

In Guatemala—one of the countries with the world's highest stunting rates and low early childhood education enrollment—several organizations and government institutions increasingly recognize the importance of improving early child development (ECD) and have accumulated relevant key lessons on ECD...
The Ecomienza Program's Cohort 2023 in a virtual class

20 for 20: Promoting diversity in economics in LAC with current and former J-PAL staff

In this post, we speak with the co-founders of EconThaki, an organization created to improve diversity and inclusion in economics through information, training and mentoring in South America. Econthaki was launched by young Peruvian researchers, including Jostin Kitmang, J-PAL LAC Research Manager...
A woman gives a lecture and gestures with her hands.

Affiliate Spotlight: Raquel Bernal on early childhood education and the importance of lifelong learning

Raquel Bernal is Professor of Economics and President of Universidad de los Andes in Colombia. In this Affiliate Spotlight, she shares more about her path to development economics and her research on early childhood education.
Children sit in circle in classroom

Shukuma in South African schools: Adapting evidence on cognitive behavioural therapy-inspired programmes to reduce violence

While evidence-based insights on the most effective ways to reduce crime and violence are scarce, rigorous evidence has shown that one family of interventions may be effective. A strong foundation of evidence suggests that interventions based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)...
Person looking at computer screen with "Health Care Evaluation Toolkit" landing page

Introducing the Health Care Evaluation Toolkit: Resources for randomized evaluations in health care

J-PAL North America released a new Health Care Evaluation Toolkit that provides guidance and advice for social scientists conducting randomized evaluations of health care delivery interventions, within health systems, or using health care data, leveraging case studies from the United States.
Workers at a factory in Birigui, São Paulo, Brazil

Tackling Brazil's labor market challenges with evidence: JOI Brazil's research agenda

Brazil's labor market faces multiple challenges, including gender and racial disparities, an aging population where many lack access to savings or a pension, and adaptation to new labor regulations and digital transformation. The Covid-19 crisis exacerbated challenges as unemployment rates in the...
A group sits at tables while two people stand facing a white board.

Facilitating access to administrative data in education: a fruitful partnership between IDEE and the French Ministry of Education

By
To promote experimental research in education, IDEE collaborates with the French Ministry of National Education and Youth to develop new IT tools and resources, specifically an accessible online catalog of administrative data in education.
Four students collaborating around a computer

Empowering change-makers: The DEDP MicroMasters program expands to include a new Public Policy Track and course

The journey of the DEDP MicroMasters program has been marked by growth, reflection, and celebration. We are delighted to announce another milestone for the program: the launch of a new Public Policy Track to complement our existing curriculum. Accompanying this new Public Policy Track is a change in...