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News, ideas, and analysis from J-PAL staff and affiliated professors. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive monthly email updates.

A woman teaches a class of young children in a nursery.

When childcare subsidies and employment services are not enough: How social norms shape women's choices in Egypt

How do we ensure we are addressing the correct barriers to women's empowerment in Egypt? This blog unpacks why childcare might not be the right solution to supporting women's employment and increasing gender equity in Greater Cairo.
Women entrepreneur standing in front of garments smiling

Beyond easy metrics: Evaluating what matters for women entrepreneurs

By
  • Tanvi Jaluka
Tanvi Jaluka shares how she and her team at CARE conducted qualitative research as part of a baseline survey for Strive Women program in Peru, Pakistan, and Vietnam.
Lazare Kovo

African Scholar Spotlight: Lazare Kovo

We speak with Solomon Lazare Kovo from Emory University about how growing up in Benin shaped his passion for development economics. He explains how rigorous impact evaluations can help answer big policy questions, especially on gender gaps, learning, and employment.
Kohlipura village, India. GOTN: The survey team debriefing after a long day of work.

Researcher Spotlight: Gautam Rao on co-producing evidence with policymakers

In this episode of the Researcher Spotlight Series, host Sambhav Choudhury speaks with Gautam Rao, associate professor of economics at UC Berkeley. From his unconventional journey from electronics engineering to economics, Gautam shares insights on his behavioral economics and mental health research...
Students and teacher in classroom

The Evidence Effect: Evidence for more effective social policy in Europe and North America

Generating rigorous evidence on the effectiveness of programs designed to reduce poverty is not just the work of lower and middle-income countries. Countries across Europe and North America are also grappling with how to best tackle deep-rooted and pressing social challenges. These include...
Electric car charging point with urban backdrop

Using evidence to shape climate policy: Five takeaways from J-PAL Europe’s policy roundtable in Bonn

How can we make climate policy more effective, equitable, and evidence-driven? That was the guiding question of J-PAL Europe’s recent policy roundtable in Bonn, Germany. The roundtable was hosted alongside the Institute of Labour Economics’ (IZA) Climate and Environmental Economics workshop and...
A student at a school solving math problems in Udaipur, India

Researcher Spotlight: Harini Kannan on partnering with government to scale evidence-informed programs across India

In this episode of the Researcher Spotlight Series, host Sambhav Choudhury speaks with Harini Kannan, research scientist at J-PAL South Asia. Harini shares her journey from being inspired by budget speeches as a child to pursuing a career in development economics.
A man walks through arid land carrying buckets filled with small plants

The Evidence Effect: Evidence for action in conflict and crisis

The people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance are among those hardest hit by cuts to foreign aid. With humanitarian funding at historic lows, many essential services are being scaled back or suspended altogether, leading to preventable deaths and putting millions more lives at risk. Restoring...