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

A man walks through arid land carrying buckets filled with small plants

The Evidence Effect: Evidence for action in conflict and crisis

The people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance are among those hardest hit by cuts to foreign aid. With humanitarian funding at historic lows, many essential services are being scaled back or suspended altogether, leading to preventable deaths and putting millions more lives at risk. Restoring...
 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...
Workers in a ptivate garment factory

The Evidence Effect: What we’ve learned working with the private sector for inclusive growth

The private sector is a fundamental force for driving global prosperity. For corporations and investors, there’s enormous opportunity in low- and middle-income countries’ growing markets and talent. What’s less clear is how to partner most effectively for maximum impact: How can multinationals...
J-PAL and San Diego County staff at Training Session

Ideas to Implementation: Scoping evaluation possibilities to strengthen Climate Action Plan implementation in San Diego County

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The County of San Diego’s Office of Evaluation, Performance, and Analytics (OEPA), Planning and Development Services (PDS) teams, J-PAL staff, and UCSD researchers discuss their efforts to explore innovative evaluation possibilities aimed at strengthening the implementation of the Climate Action...
Four people on a panel with a screen behind them.

Integrating conservation into development policy in Brazil

While individual behavior and corporate commitments play an important role in transitioning to a sustainable economic development model, the structural changes needed to mitigate environmental impacts can also be effectively achieved through well-designed public policies.
Panelists at J-PAL hosted event at COP29

Harnessing evidence and partnerships: Scaling climate resilience at COP29

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The impacts of climate change are expected to intensify over the next thirty years and will disproportionately affect those experiencing poverty, exacerbate inequalities, trap disadvantaged groups in a cycle of poverty and vulnerability, and threaten to reverse years of progress. Global events, such...
An engineer inspecting HVAC on a roof.

Generating evidence to advance state and local decarbonization efforts in the United States

Peter Christensen, Scientific Advisor of the J-PAL North America Environment, Energy, and Climate Change (EECC) sector, discusses the importance of rigorously evaluating decarbonization programming now, outlines the project’s work to build and execute a coordinated research agenda, and invites...
Aerial view of irrigated nile river valley meeting the dry arid desert

Navigating climate justice in MENA: Emerging carbon markets

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Carbon markets are rapidly being developed by multiple countries, including those in the Middle East North Africa. While these markets aim to reduce emissions and enhance corporate action, rigorous impact evaluation and evidence-use is needed to ensure that the design and implementation of these...