January 2020 Newsletter

J-PAL Global

1 January 2020

Nobel laureates Michael Kremer, Esther Duflo, and Abhijit Banerjee on the Nobel stage in Stockholm in December 2019.

Photo: Iqbal Dhaliwal | J-PAL

Building on an incredible 2019

2019 was a banner year for J-PAL on many fronts. We launched exciting new initiatives to expand the frontiers of research and evidence-informed policy, grew our online MicroMasters program, and accepted the first class of students in our new Master’s in Data, Economics, and Development Policy.

2019 was also notable for an exceptional reason: J-PAL co-founders Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo and longtime affiliate Michael Kremer were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.

So how do we top this incredible year, or for that matter, the past decade? We do so by doubling down on the hard work and strong, collaborative partnerships that helped this movement succeed, and by focusing on a number of new priority areas. Our Global Executive Director provides a quick recap of 2019 and highlights some of the key focus areas for 2020 and beyond. Read more »

Our top blog posts of the year

Our staff, affiliated researchers, and partners covered a range of topics on the J-PAL blog in 2019, from research transparency to program scale-ups to innovations in blended learning. We compiled a list of our most-read posts highlighting insights from across the J-PAL network. Read our top posts »

Saving for the future: Delivering on a common New Year’s resolution

At the start of a new year, many people set resolutions to improve their lives: eat healthier food, be more kind, save more money. Yet, many resolutions fade over time, including commitments to better financial habits. How can savings products be designed to enable people to meet their savings goals? Read more »

Helping smallholder farmers adapt to climate change

In 2019, nearly $800 million was pledged to the research and development of technologies to increase smallholder farmers’ resilience to climate change. But how do we ensure farmers adopt effective innovations? The Environment, Energy, & Climate Change team highlighted interventions to reduce barriers to adopting technologies and strategies to help farmers cope with climate shocks. Read more »

FEATURED PUBLICATION

Inspiring success: Personalized training for microenterprises in Chile

Between 2013 and 2014, J-PAL affiliated professors Jeanne Lafortune (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile) and José Tessada (Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile), with coauthor Julio Riutort, worked with the Chilean non-profit Simón de Cirene to conduct a randomized evaluation of personalized training for microentrepreneurs.

In addition to conventional classroom training, the program included two innovative components: role models and individualized technical assistance. Adding those components to the training increased microentrepreneurs’ household income, mainly through improved business practices and performance. Read more »

FEATURED MULTIMEDIA

New video: Can results from one context be applied to another?

How can studying one program make a meaningful difference in the lives of millions worldwide? The answer lies in generalizability, or applying lessons from one context to another. Watch the video »

UPCOMING TRAININGS

Enroll now in MicroMasters' spring semester

The next semester of our online MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Development Policy (DEDP) begins February 4. Through a series of five online courses and in-person exams, learners will gain a strong foundation in microeconomics, development economics, and probability and statistics, while engaging with cutting-edge field research. Students who complete the full DEDP credential are eligible to apply for the blended master’s program in DEDP at MIT. Learn more and register »