J-PAL North America, based at MIT, leads J-PAL’s work in the North America region. J-PAL North America conducts randomized evaluations, builds partnerships for evidence-informed policymaking, and helps partners scale up effective programs.

Our work spans a wide range of sectors including health care, housing, criminal justice, education, and economic mobility. We leverage research by affiliated professors from universities across the continent and a full-time staff of researchers, policy experts, and administrative professionals to generate and disseminate rigorous evidence about which anti-poverty social policies work and why.

MIT partner logo
Photo credit: J-PAL North America
Update

June 2025 North America Newsletter

J-PAL North America's June newsletter features reflections on our work in Puerto Rico, new research results on the impact of tutor-student gender match, and a recent symposium that the Health Care Delivery Initiative participated in. 

A group of people working together on a round table.
Blog

Re-affirming the value of rigorous, policy-relevant research

Rigorous research plays an essential role in identifying which policies are achieving their intended goals. As leaders of a non-partisan research center, J-PAL North America believes in the power of data and evaluation to understand whether policies are working—and to course correct when they are...

An image of a group of people working at the Puerto Rico trainings
Blog

Fostering a culture of evidence-based policies in Puerto Rico

Research Manager Laura Ruiz and consultant Kimberly Massa share exciting updates on our ongoing work in Puerto Rico, the latest in-person training, and upcoming capacity-building opportunities for future collaborators.

A group of people working together.
Blog

Ideas to Implementation: Engaging the community to evaluate an extended stay detoxification program in Pierce County, Washington

In this blog, Pierce County Human Services (Washington State) share insights into implementing a community engagement strategy within a randomized evaluation—drawing from their experience with the Fentanyl Detox Program.