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

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...
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.
 Enumerator administering a child verification survey

Researcher Spotlight: Ariel Zucker on applying economic theory to real-world solutions

In this episode of the Researcher Spotlight Series, host Sambhav Choudhury speaks with Ariel Zucker, assistant professor of economics at UC Santa Cruz. Ariel discusses her journey from an early interest in global health disparities to becoming a development economist specializing in experimental...
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...
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...
A farmer uses a drum seeder in India

Insights from the field: Exciting new work from aspiring researchers supported by the Agricultural Technology Adoption Initiative

By
  • Karin Mason
In this blog, Karin Mason, former Agriculture Program Intern at CEGA, highlights three ATAI-funded projects led by graduate students Steven Brownstone (UCSD), Piyush Gandhi (UCSC), and Iacopo Bianchi (SU).
Trainees sit at a table

Investing in data talent for social impact matters now more than ever

Through the India Climate and Health Data Capacity Accelerator (IDCA), J-PAL South Asia, in collaboration with Data.org, is working to build a cohort of professionals equipped to ride the wave of data utilization by giving them the tools to identify patterns, spot emerging trends, and make evidence...
Government surveyor accompanied by J-PAL supervisor administering the Panel Survey Wave 2 to an elder in Trichy

What does it take to sustain a government-researcher partnership? Lessons from Tamil Nadu

J-PAL South Asia has been working with the Government of Tamil Nadu, India for many years to inform policy decisions with rigorous research. One of our longest-standing research projects involves a multi-year survey of elderly people residing in the state to better understand their needs and how the...