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?
We host events around the world and online to share results and policy lessons from randomized evaluations, build new partnerships between researchers and practitioners, and train organizations on how to design and conduct randomized evaluations.
Applications are now open for a four-day randomized evaluation design workshop as part of the Displaced Livelihoods Initiative (DLI) and the Humanitarian Protection Initiative (HPI) to develop projects in the Sub-Saharan Africa organised by J-PAL and Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA).
As part of the "Development Methodologies" Chair held by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, a summer school for African researchers, project leaders and other partners will be organised from July 7 to 11, 2025 in Dakar, on the campus of the African Center for Higher Studies in Management (CESAG).
The Morocco Employment Lab’s executive education course aims to provide participants with an in-depth look at how, why, and when randomized evaluations can be used to rigorously measure the impact of social policies and programs. The seven-day online training program is for policymakers, governments...
Join J-PAL North America’s State and Local Innovation Initiative team to learn more about the Innovation Competition and how to apply. This webinar will provide additional information about J-PAL North America's State and Local Innovation Competition, through which state and local governments can...
Over a hundred million people lost employment in 2020 and many more worked reduced hours. The economic repercussions of Covid-19 will likely be felt well into 2030. What policies might speed the path toward recovery? Please join J-PAL's Labor Markets and Firms teams for an informal discussion of...
Join J-PAL Southeast Asia’s Inclusive Financial Innovation Initiative for a learning collaborative webinar to share valuable findings from a randomized evaluation conducted by IFII invited researchers on increasing the take-up and usage of branchless banking products. This webinar will feature a...
J-PAL South Asia’s next Covid Dialogue webinar will delve into how governments can effectively communicate Covid-19 prevention behaviors. Speakers will also share lessons to inform Covid-19 vaccine uptake in India, drawing on rigorous research and implementation experience in increasing routine...
Live via Zoom | January 21 10:00-11:30 AM EST, 6:00-7:30 PM EAT
The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown into sharp focus the importance of workers’ rights and workplace protections globally. Women, in particular, are bearing the brunt of the hardship and are disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. Join us for a webinar, featuring new research and lessons from...
J-PAL North America’s State and Local Innovation Initiative virtual webinar series “Charting the Next Decade of Evidence Generation in State and Local Government” will explore pressing policy and research priorities facing state and local governments. Speakers in the series will discuss how state...
Please join for the first webinar in a series focused on showcasing emerging results and policy lessons from the first three years of J-PAL and Innovations for Poverty Action’s Governance, Crime, and Conflict Initiative (GCCI). This first event webinar in the GCCI webinar series will explore if...