The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,000 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Anchored by a network of more than 1,000 researchers at universities around the world, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty.
Our affiliated professors are based at over 120 universities and conduct randomized evaluations around the world to design, evaluate, and improve programs and policies aimed at reducing poverty. They set their own research agendas, raise funds to support their evaluations, and work with J-PAL staff on research, policy outreach, and training.
Our Board of Directors, which is composed of J-PAL affiliated professors and senior management, provides overall strategic guidance to J-PAL, our sector programs, and regional offices.
J-PAL recognizes that there is a lack of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the field of economics and in our field of work. Read about what actions we are taking to address this.
We host events around the world and online to share results and policy lessons from randomized evaluations, to build new partnerships between researchers and practitioners, and to train organizations on how to design and conduct randomized evaluations, and use evidence from impact evaluations.
Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters, and connect with us for media inquiries.
Based at leading universities around the world, our experts are economists who use randomized evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty. Connect with us for all media inquiries and we'll help you find the right person to shed insight on your story.
J-PAL is based at MIT in Cambridge, MA and has seven regional offices at leading universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
J-PAL is based at MIT in Cambridge, MA and has seven regional offices at leading universities in Africa, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, Middle East and North Africa, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Our global office is based at the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It serves as the head office for our network of seven independent regional offices.
Led by affiliated professors, J-PAL sectors guide our research and policy work by conducting literature reviews; by managing research initiatives that promote the rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions by affiliates; and by summarizing findings and lessons from randomized evaluations and producing cost-effectiveness analyses to help inform relevant policy debates.
Led by affiliated professors, J-PAL sectors guide our research and policy work by conducting literature reviews; by managing research initiatives that promote the rigorous evaluation of innovative interventions by affiliates; and by summarizing findings and lessons from randomized evaluations and producing cost-effectiveness analyses to help inform relevant policy debates.
How do policies affecting private sector firms impact productivity gaps between higher-income and lower-income countries? How do firms’ own policies impact economic growth and worker welfare?
How can we identify effective policies and programs in low- and middle-income countries that provide financial assistance to low-income families, insuring against shocks and breaking poverty traps?
Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, and read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters. For media inquiries, please email us.
J-PAL affiliate Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak shares his journey to development economics, including the continuing influence of being raised in Bangladesh, as well as his research philosophy and ongoing projects.
J-PAl affiliate Asad Islam evaluates BRAC's learning spaces for 3,500 Rohingya mothers and children in Cox's Bazaar, Bangladesh, finding that the mental health of children and mothers significantly improved after engaging in play- and arts-based learning programs for a year.
J-PAL affiliates Oriana Bandiera and Robin Burgess' collaboration with BRAC in Bangladesh uncovers evidence explaining what underlies the success of certain “big push” antipoverty programs.
In the May newsletter, we highlight the Economics Transformation Project, the impact of climate change on food security and nutrition, the Humanitarian Initiative Learning Agenda, and the professional journeys of J-PAL alumni.
In VoxDev, a development economics platform, J-PAL affiliates Jenny Aker and Kelsey Jack discuss a novel training that improves agricultural technology adoption rates.
J-PAL affiliates Dean Karlan, Chris Udry, Thomas Bossuroy, Harounan Kazianga, and William Parienté, alongside other collaborators, find that multifaceted social programs which address psychological and social obstacles to seizing economic opportunities in addition to providing cash have a beneficial...
In this podcast episode, J-PAL affiliates and co-founders Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo discuss an array of important topics including rising inequality, the economic impact of automation, and fostering trust in economists.
J-PAL Africa staff Alessia Mortara, Primrose Adjepong and Onyinye Oguntoye argue that poverty remains a key barrier to school enrolment for girls, especially following the economic disruptions triggered by the Covid-19 pandemic. They recommend a series of carefully designed social protection...