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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.

August 2025 North America Newsletter

J-PAL North America's August newsletter features the Evidence Effect series from J-PAL Global, the launch of our new Initiative for Effective US Crime Policy, and a recent Research Staff Training.

Opinion | Development finance: how to get more bang from fewer bucks

Trump’s decision to shut USAID strengthens the case for funding project research, say Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee in an interview for the Financial Times

August 2025 Global Monthly Newsletter

In the August edition of our newsletter, we share the latest from The Evidence Effect on taking action in conflict and crisis and effective policies in high-income countries, an opportunity to lead J-PAL Africa as Executive Director, and a new podcast series from J-PAL South Asia on research in...

Better public service with data

MIT master’s student and Brazilian diplomat Davi Augusto Oliveira Pinto wants to help policymakers make informed choices to improve people’s lives.

With $1K in cash aid, he built a life-changing barbershop. Now cash aid is under fire

A man in rural Mozambique used a USD 1,000 unconditional cash grant from USAID, delivered through GiveDirectly, to establish a barbershop—doubling his income and improving his livelihood. His experience reflects robust evidence showing that direct cash transfers can effectively increase incomes...

Punjab to launch ‘evidence-based’ anti-drug school curriculum in govt schools on August 1

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government is set to roll out an anti-drug school curriculum, developed by Nobel Laureate Prof Abhijit Banerjee-led organisation J-PAL South Asia, for Classes IX to XII in government schools to empower around eight lakh students with prevention-focused skills to...

Newsletter do J-PAL LAC Julho 2025

O J-PAL América Latina e Caribe (LAC) promove a campanha "O Efeito da Evidência", celebra uma nova Co-Diretora Científica, lança um podcast sobre educação e estabelece uma parceria com a UNICEF. Encontre as últimas atualizações sobre pesquisas, iniciativas, cursos, eventos, recursos e muito mais...

Opinion | Shaping India’s multidimensional fight against poverty

In a new op-ed for The Hindu, Parikrama Chowdhry, Lead – Policy (Scale-ups) at J-PAL South Asia, highlights why India’s fight against poverty must go beyond income—and how integrated models like the Graduation Approach can help states tackle the interconnected realities of deprivation.