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

Public officials from OEFA. Credit: María Paz Monge | J-PAL LAC.

Pathways to a culture of evidence: What we learned from governments in Latin America and the Caribbean

In Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), government-led social programs hold the highest potential to drive meaningful change. The J-PAL LAC office partners with governments across the region, working to expand the use of rigorous evidence in shaping public policy. Along the way, we’ve gathered...
Three people look at computers

MIT alumni Rotarians endow fellowship fund to support MIT’s DEDP master’s students

Expanding access to high-quality education—especially for learners with limited access, resources, or means—is a core goal of the Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program. These efforts are especially meaningful when they are led by members of the MIT community.
Student in a classroom

Researcher Spotlight: Shobhini Mukerji on her journey into development economics

In this episode of The Evidence Effect, host Sambhav Choudhury speaks with Shobhini Mukerji, Executive Director of J-PAL South Asia. From her transformative summer internship with education nonprofit Pratham to becoming a principal investigator on groundbreaking research, Shobhini shares her journey...
Child writing in his notebook at school

Setting an early foundation for children’s learning: using insights from cost-effectiveness analysis to inform decisions

Ensuring children have strong basic skills in reading, writing, and mathematics – together known as foundational literacy and numeracy – is considered critical for their future academic success and later life outcomes. While research has generated insights on what works for improving literacy and...
An image of a group of people working at the Puerto Rico trainings

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.
Students in Ghana engage with hands-on activities designed to support foundational learning.

From training to impact: Strengthening foundational learning in Ghana

This is the second blog post in a series highlighting how UNICEF and J-PAL are working together to strengthen evidence use in education. The first blog post reflected on insights from global experts working to adapt and scale evidence-based education programs. This post builds on the first by...
A woman harvesting rice in a field.

The Evidence Effect: The unique value of aid and philanthropy—four essential roles

Governments and local communities are leading the charge on delivering services at scale. When focused on the right things, donor capital—both bilateral and philanthropic—doesn’t have to and generally shouldn’t replace government funding. It should play a catalytic role to spark innovation, spread...
Madhya Pradesh_Women's Help Desks_Intervention in progress _officer hearing out a complainant in Morena district.jpg(941.18 KB)

Researcher Spotlight: Sandip Sukhtankar on his work in India

In this episode of the Researcher Spotlight Conversation Series, host Sambhav Choudhury speaks with Sandip Sukhtankar, Professor of Economics at the University of Virginia. He discusses the unique challenges and rewards of conducting research with law enforcement agencies, offers practical...