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Browse news articles about J-PAL and our affiliated professors, and read our press releases and monthly global and research newsletters. For media inquiries, please email us.

Here’s What Happens When You Give People Free Money

OpenResearch released the first results of the most comprehensive study on giving unrestricted cash grants to impoverished Americans. Researchers say it will flame both sides of the debate over welfare.

Paying Off People’s Medical Debt Has Little Impact on Their Lives, Study Finds

A nonprofit group called R.I.P. Medical Debt has relieved Americans of $11 billion in hospital bills. But that did not improve their mental health or their credit scores, a study found.

May 2024 North America Monthly Newsletter

J-PAL North America's May newsletter features an interview with Rachel Maltz, Senior Program Manager of the City of Carlsbad California’s Innovation and Economic Development Department; new research results on understanding demand for police alternatives, and a blog post on the effects of increasing...

A modest intervention that helps low-income families beat the poverty trap

Letting people work with a “navigator” dramatically increases how often they move to higher-opportunity neighborhoods.

As new tech threatens jobs, Silicon Valley promotes no-strings cash aid

NPR
The rise of artificial intelligence has stoked fears that such technological advances will wipe out millions of jobs. Now, the first results are out from the latest and largest study on the impacts of free money — research spearheaded by the man behind ChatGPT.

April 2024 North America Monthly Newsletter

J-PAL North America's April newsletter features our research partnerships in Puerto Rico and new research results on medical debt relief.

How Mark Zuckerberg is reimagining the classroom

CNN
“I think that (VR) is one area that really would benefit from having some additional research,” said Vincent Quan, an education researcher and co-executive director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab.

Medical Debt Relief: How Helpful?

Relieve people of medical debt burdens and their mental health and financial profiles will improve. Well, that isn’t always the case, according to a study released April 8 by economists who worked with RIP Medical Debt, the field’s leading nonprofit.