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 900 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.
Many educators want more focus on literacy and numeracy. The Financial Times features Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) as a strategy in the debates around improving education.
J-PAL North America's April newsletter highlights our new Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage and two upcoming events, the HCDI@8 virtual convening and the Evaluation Social Programs executive education course.
J-PAL affiliated professor Nicholas Ryan, along with J-PAL's King Climate Action Initiative (K-CAI), are working with environmental regulators in Gujarat to measure the impact of cap-and-trade emission reduction strategies in India.
The White House makes compromises in the implementation of their new climate-focused infrastructure policy, reflecting how political pragmatism is shaping the new administration’s governing style. While the White House's infrastructure plan is politically popular, they may have to sacrifice cost...
J-PAL and MIT Economics look into potential barriers to higher education in the MicroMasters program in Data, Economics, and Development Policy as they welcome the second cohort of DEDP master's students to campus. Read about this, ways to address Covid-19 learning gaps, using evidence to promote...
The Nasser Social Bank and J-PAL MENA signed a memorandum of understanding at the American University in Cairo to design and implement impact evaluations and advance evidence-informed decision making. Full article in Arabic.
Experience shows that innovative and evidence-based approaches, when executed well, can dent poverty. With the Covid-19 pandemic threatening to reverse hard-won global gains, the need for policy-relevant research, and for scaling effective solutions, has never been more urgent.
Referencing insights from J-PAL affiliated evaluations of "Teach at the Right Level" programs, schools in sub-Saharan Africa are running "catch-up" programs to address learning losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.