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

Sign on a storefront reading "We Accept EBT Food Stamp Benefits"

What evidence says about how to improve SNAP and reduce food insecurity

Research shows that these proven interventions can help increase eligible households’ access to SNAP.
A group photo of the North America DEI Working Group in front of the Boston skyline

J-PAL North America’s DEIWG: Lessons and Reflections from 2023-24

This is the first of an annual series of blog posts about J-PAL North America's DEI efforts.
A man presenting in front of a seated group of people

Beyond the Incubator: Building a community of practice

The Bay Area Evaluation community of practice is committed to supporting rigorously designed evaluations; implementing constituent-centered programs; sharing knowledge and stories; and informing housing policy in the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.
A street in Carlsbad, California, with a large sign reading "Carlsbad", cars waiting at a traffic light and a Victoria-style building in the background

Evolving towards a data-driven culture: The City of Carlsbad’s reflections from LEVER’s Training Sprint

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Rachel Maltz—Senior Program Manager of the City of Carlsbad California’s Innovation and Economic Development Department—shares her experience participating in LEVER's 2023 Training Sprint and how the program has helped evolve the city's approach to evidence and data usage in policymaking.
A Black Principal Investigator sitting at a table speaking with a Black older man

Bridging gaps in health care: The impact of investigator diversity on clinical trials

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J-PAL affiliated researcher Marcella Alsan and coauthors Romaine Campbell, Lukas Leister, and Ayotomiwa Ojo share insights from their research on how investigator racial diversity affects clinical trial participation by Black respondents.
A woodchipper with 'Fire District 3' written on it working on by a road.

Building research partnerships to address wildfire risk in Jackson County, Oregon

Deputy Director of the Western Fire Chiefs Association Chief Bob Horton and researchers Judson Boomhower (UC San Diego) and Patrick Baylis (University of British Columbia) discuss their research partnership to evaluate a program encouraging households to take up wildfire prevention practices.
Vincent standing next to a presentation screen showing LAHE Network organizations

The LA Homelessness Evaluation Network: Lessons learned from supporting organizations build evidence and evaluation capacity

In this post, J-PAL North America shares lessons learned from homeless service providers who have been participating in our Los Angeles Homelessness Evaluation Network.
Mother and child smiling

Centering parents and parenting in randomized evaluations of cash transfers to families

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The Baby’s First Years evaluation is a J-PAL-supported study evaluating the impact of poverty alleviation on child development and families. Two researchers involved in Baby’s First Years discuss the importance of centering parents and their experiences to better understand the impact cash payments...