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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 group of people stand together, holding diplomas.

A new diverse cohort joins the vibrant graduate network of the J-PAL/UC Diploma in Impact Evaluation

In January, a new diverse class graduated from the Diploma in Impact Evaluation of Public Policies and Social Programs organized by the Instituto de Economía (IE) of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) and J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean (J-PAL LAC). Forty-one students from...
A group work session at the J-PAL-FID incubator.

Strengthening capacity for evidence generation: J-PAL’s evaluation incubators

This is the fourth blog in a series illustrating stories of how J-PAL’s training courses have built new policy and research partnerships and strengthened existing ones to advance evidence-informed decision-making. The first blog in the series highlights two meaningful examples from J-PAL’s...
Students at event held in Universidad Catolica Chile

Inspiring students to explore development careers in Chile and Guatemala

While many tend to associate economics primarily with careers in investments and banking, development economics offers an alternative avenue that may be worth exploring. To help broaden this general perception, J-PAL Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) recently held two events at partner...
Laptop computer open to J-PAL's Evaluatying Social Programs webpage

Growing a global community for impact evaluation: J-PAL’s online courses

This is the third blog in a series illustrating stories of how J-PAL’s training courses have built new policy and research partnerships and strengthened existing ones to advance evidence-informed decision-making. The first blog in the series highlights two meaningful examples from J-PAL’s Evaluating...
Side-by-side images of Mikey Jarrell and Ashley Vicary

DEDP Alumni Spotlight: Digging deeper into research questions inspired at MIT

In January 2023, the Data, Economics, and Design of Policy program welcomed its fourth cohort of students, who came from around the world to MIT for eight months of learning, building friendships, and tackling challenging projects and questions. As the class of 2023 graduates and joins our vibrant...
Two men and one women sit and look at a computer.

Tailoring training modules to strengthen evaluation partnerships: J-PAL’s custom courses

This is the second blog in a series illustrating stories of how J-PAL’s training courses have built new policy and research partnerships and strengthened existing ones to advance evidence-informed decision-making.
Four students collaborating around a computer

Empowering change-makers: The DEDP MicroMasters program expands to include a new Public Policy Track and course

The journey of the DEDP MicroMasters program has been marked by growth, reflection, and celebration. We are delighted to announce another milestone for the program: the launch of a new Public Policy Track to complement our existing curriculum. Accompanying this new Public Policy Track is a change in...
Students sitting as desks at J-PAL Africa’s 2022 Evaluating Social Programs course at the African School fof Economics in Abuja, Nigeria

Building skills to advance impact evaluation: J-PAL’s Evaluating Social Programs course

In this blog, we highlight two notable examples of how Evaluating Social Programs courses led to high-impact research and policy partnerships, while recognizing the impressive community of practice among course alumni around the world.