J-PAL

J-PAL

@j-pal.bsky.social

We are a global poverty research center at MIT that conducts randomized evaluations and builds partnerships to bring innovative, effective programs to scale.

1,681 Followers 241 Following 234 Posts Joined Jan 2024
2 days ago
Choosing a PhD program: Advice from recent PhDs This post is part of a series offering advice for prospective PhD students. This post compiles advice from J-PAL postdocs and staff with PhDs to help prospective students choose between programs to wh...

🎓 Having trouble choosing between PhD programs? On the J-PAL blog, PhD graduates shared their insights on how to navigate the process with confidence: https://bit.ly/4dyRvFc

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3 weeks ago
Left: Photo of an electric vehicle being charged.
Right: "Featured Event. Impact by Design: Launching a Research Partnership for Accessible Climate Action in Orlando. March 3, 2026, 2-3pm ET, Live over Zoom."

🧵 Upcoming event!
Impact by Design: Launching a Research Partnership for Accessible Climate Action in Orlando | Tuesday, March 3 from 2-3 pm ET mit.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

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2 weeks ago

The Graduation approach began as pilots. Today, it has reached 6.7 million households across multiple countries, with lasting impacts. A decade after the first study, the Partnership for Economic Inclusion has released a survey on the landscape of Graduation. Read more (PDF): https://bit.ly/3OmRzRn

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2 weeks ago
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India’s AI summit draws global leaders, big pledges and some chaos The five-day event mixed long lines and viral mishaps with a serious pitch: The future of AI shouldn’t be written only in Washington and Beijing.

Our Global Executive Director Iqbal Dhaliwal spoke to NBC news about the AI Summit in India: “Hosting the Summit here [in the Global South] has allowed the conversation to center the issues that will affect these billions of people.”

🔗 Read the story: https://nbcnews.to/46oGbuj

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3 weeks ago
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Feel-good vs do-good AI: J-PAL director calls for reality check on AI tools J-PAL launched the AI Evidence Playbook — a manual to guide government officials on deploying AI responsibly| India News

At the AI Impact Summit today, our Global Executive Director Iqbal Dhaliwal shared a vital message: Don’t confuse engagement metrics with real-world impact. Read more in the Hindustan Times: https://bit.ly/3OkcuEx and check out our brand new AI Evidence Playbook: https://bit.ly/3On3m1U.

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3 weeks ago
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AI for Social Good: Aligning Research with National Priorities | India AI Impact Summit 2026 YouTube video by IndiaAI

Starting now - watch the live stream of AI for Social Good: Impact That Works, our full-day session at the AI Impact Summit today in New Delhi. Tune in to hear from leaders in tech, govt, research, and civil society on evidence-informed solutions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqDqN0Cbw9k.

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3 weeks ago
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As development budgets face increasing pressure, our annual update underscores the importance of evidence in guiding effective, scalable solutions across areas like AI and climate change—and sets an agenda for the year ahead. Explore the digital report: https://bit.ly/4a8CsDv

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1 month ago
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In our annual update, we share reflections from a challenging year for global development and our vision and priorities for 2026. Explore the digital report, including an opening letter from our Global Exec Director Iqbal Dhaliwal:

🔗 https://bit.ly/4a8CsDv

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1 month ago
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Data, Economics, and Design of Policy MicroMasters Grapple with some of the world’s most pressing problems from a rigorous, data-driven perspective developed by Nobel prize winners Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee. Complete three core courses and two...

Last week we welcomed the 7th cohort of Data, Economics, and Design of Policy master’s students to @mit.edu 🏛 Each student joined the master's program having already earned their #DEDP MicroMasters credential. Begin your #DEDP journey by enrolling in our online courses: https://bit.ly/3auQROa

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1 month ago
The King Climate Action Initiative: Five years of growing impact As rising temperatures threaten to reverse gains in the fight against poverty, communities on the frontlines need solutions that work. Since 2020, J-PAL's King Climate Action Initiative has funded res...

🌍 💡 In the last five years, J-PAL's King Climate Action Initiative has informed policies and programs improving the lives of over 30 million people and protecting our planet. Read about their growing impact at the intersection of climate change and poverty: https://bit.ly/4bKyPET

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1 month ago
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📢 Registered yet for the #IndiaAIImpactSummit2026?

Don’t miss J-PAL’s official event, AI for Social Good: Impact that Works.

📍 New Delhi | Feb 17

⏰ Registrations close soon—register now: j-p.al/ai-summit

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1 month ago
AI for social good: An evidence-informed agenda In addition to questions about AI’s big-picture impacts, pressing questions remain about the effects specific use cases will have on outcomes in the real world. History gives us reason to be careful. ...

How can AI maximize social good, while minimizing risks? Our new AI blog series examines six key pathways: https://bit.ly/3NoQEiT.

Curious to learn more? Join us in February at AI for Social Good: Impact that Works, an official event of India AI Impact Summit: j-p.al/ai-summit.

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1 month ago
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The new Energy Economics & Policy course in our Data, Economics, & Design of Policy online MicroMasters program is open for enrollment! 🌱 Explore how policy & economics shape energy markets & climate outcomes. It's free to audit—enroll today: https://bit.ly/3L56NJz

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1 month ago
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Delegating Property Tax Collection to Local Elites in the DRC | The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab Researchers conducted a randomized evaluation during the 2018 property tax collection campaign to test the impact of delegating tax collection to local chiefs. Where local chiefs collected taxes, hous...

🇨🇩 Are local elites in the DRC able to collect taxes more effectively than government? Research by @abergeron.bsky.social with Gabriel Tourek, Pablo Balan, and Jonathan Weigel showed people were more willing to pay their taxes when local chiefs led collection. Read our summary: https://bit.ly/4jydj8h

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1 month ago
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From oil & gas to renewables—learn how energy markets work and how policy can drive change. ⛽ Enroll now in our free, online Energy Economics and Policy course with @mitxcourses.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/3L56NJz

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1 month ago
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Can training entrepreneurs early in their careers deliver long-term returns? 📊

A new @nber.org working paper by J-PAL affiliate Paul Gertler and coauthors finds that a short, school-based entrepreneurship program in Uganda led to stronger skills and 20% higher revenues.

📄 https://bit.ly/4bponSW

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2 months ago
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Build your data analysis skills with Data Analysis for Social Scientists from @mitxcourses.bsky.social 📊

Learn to work with datasets, apply statistical methods, and make evidence-informed decisions that address real-world challenges. Enroll today: https://bit.ly/49Fm7FV

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2 months ago
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Interested in turning data into actionable insights? 📊

Enroll in Data Analysis for Social Scientists, an online course with @mitxcourses.bsky.social. Learn to navigate complex data to inform decisions. The course is free to audit.

Start learning today: https://bit.ly/49Fm7FV

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2 months ago
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What are the best ways to design nonprofit and government programs that work? 📊

The DEDP MicroMasters Program from MIT teaches practical tools to evaluate and improve programs and policies using data and economics.

Learn more at our webinar on January 6 at 9 AM ET: https://bit.ly/3MBa6Zf

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2 months ago
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Can markets solve poverty? What role do NGOs play in development? How do we tackle hunger and education gaps? 🌐

The Challenges of Global Poverty from @mitxcourses.bsky.social examines these crucial questions through economics. Enroll today: https://bit.ly/4q0SGnj

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2 months ago
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What drives inequality between nations? Can economics guide us toward real solutions? 🌍 Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo show how evidence can tackle our most pressing challenges in an online course starting Jan 20. Free with @mitxcourses.bsky.social: https://bit.ly/4q4tU5v

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2 months ago
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What drives inequality? How do we tackle climate change with evidence, not just opinions? 🌍

Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo guide you through the economics of our toughest global challenges. Explore with @mitxcourses.bsky.social - free and open to all: https://bit.ly/4q4tU5v

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2 months ago
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📈 Economic models offer practical tools for understanding how markets function and how resources are allocated. Ever wondered what really drives these decisions?

Explore these foundations in Microeconomics with @mitxcourses.bsky.social

Start learning today! https://bit.ly/4pO62Dg

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2 months ago
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🌍 Learn how data and evidence can inform solutions to persistent poverty in the free-to-audit course The Challenges of Global Poverty with @mitxcourses.bsky.social. Explore poverty traps, microfinance, education, and the role of markets—enroll today! https://bit.ly/4q0SGnj

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3 months ago
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Join us *tomorrow,* Dec 11 at 8:30am EST for a webinar on lessons from scaling up education programs 💡

Speakers from J-PAL, Teaching at the Right Level Africa, UNICEF, and govt will share lessons on navigating implementation of TaRL inspired curricula.

Register 🔗: https://bit.ly/4a0e0EF

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3 months ago
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🌍 How do markets—and prices—decide who gets what in a world of scarcity?

Explore the principles of microeconomics with @mitxcourses.bsky.social and learn the models that shape real-world decision-making.

Enroll today! https://bit.ly/4pO62Dg

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3 months ago
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Does timing matter for disaster relief? New @nber.org study by J-PAL affiliate Gregory Lane & coauthors finds: Cash within days of floods → better food security & well-being vs. same cash months later. Read the paper featuring evidence from #Bangladesh & #Nepal: https://bit.ly/3XBHWPU

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3 months ago
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Early childhood programs in Indonesia—and many other countries—face gaps in access, quality, & delivery. Earlier this year, policymakers & practitioners met to discuss how a systems-based strategy can help strengthen these programs. Read more about three key levers of change ⬇️ https://bit.ly/4oXRWix

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3 months ago
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How are parents embracing AI tools for their kids? A new @nber.org study by J-PAL affiliates Leonardo Bursztyn, Christopher Roth & coauthors finds: Social pressure drives AI adoption. Read the paper: https://bit.ly/4pasJ46

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3 months ago
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How can life skills programs that support girls’ confidence, education, and decision-making be scaled effectively? A recent post on the J-PAL blog draws lessons from research and policy dialogue across Africa.

📖 Read more: https://bit.ly/3JJKZlR

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