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

Three young adults paint a mural

Reflecting on a decade of impactful research at J-PAL North America: Informing crucial policy decisions at scale

In part five of J-PAL North America’s ten-year anniversary blog series, we distill key lessons on how to bridge the gap from research to policy to action.
Three people talking around table

Reflecting on a decade of impactful research at J-PAL North America: Credibly identifying program impact

In part four of J-PAL North America’s ten-year anniversary blog series, we discuss how credible evidence from randomized evaluations is informative in identifying effective strategies to reduce poverty, regardless of the impact estimate.
Two people walking in front of a state capitol building

Reflecting on a decade of impactful research at J-PAL North America: Forming strong researcher-practitioner partnerships

In part three of J-PAL North America’s ten-year anniversary blog series, we distill key lessons on the effective collaboration between researchers and practitioners needed to build an evidence base on poverty reduction strategies.
A Black doctor takes the blood pressure of a seated Black man

Reflecting on a decade of impactful research at J-PAL North America: Ensuring rigorous research design and effective implementation

In part two of J-PAL North America’s ten-year anniversary blog series, we dive into study design and implementation and look at past studies to distill key lessons on ensuring rigorous research design and effective implementation to build an evidence base on poverty reduction strategies.
Clockwise, starting top left: Doctor and patient in masks; student and tutor; people in jumpsuits looking at a whiteboard; people in suits on steps

Reflecting on a decade of impactful research at J-PAL North America

In the introductory post of the J-PAL North America ten-year anniversary blog series, our scientific leadership reflects on some of the most impactful research conducted by academic researchers in our network and supported by J-PAL North America
Student at computer

Overcoming administrative burdens: Strategies to increase FAFSA filing in the United States

A new J-PAL policy insight highlights evidence from randomized evaluations on interventions to increase FAFSA filing rates. In this post, we situate the insight within the larger context of higher education and barriers to accessing public programs, also known as “administrative burdens.”
A NEPI employee speaks with a respondent to determine their eligibility for the STYL program near Monrovia, Liberia

Preventing violence at scale: How practitioners are using evidence to adapt and scale CBT programs

A growing number of crime and violence prevention programs are drawing on psychosocial techniques to help shift people’s behaviors and attitudes, offering a potentially low-cost alternative to more traditional security sector strategies. In particular, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been...
Three people smiling looking at computer screen together

Fostering inclusion in economics: Matt Notowidigdo on the value (and limitations) of mentorship

In part three of a series on fostering inclusion in the field of economics, Matt Notowidigdo (University of Chicago) discusses the value of mentorship on advancing diversity and inclusion in the field of economics.