Esther Duflo: economics research and evaluating social policy
Esther Duflo is a development economist whose research examines the lives of poor people and the design and evaluation of social policies.
Esther Duflo is a development economist whose research examines the lives of poor people and the design and evaluation of social policies.
Education and research questions
MIT records Duflo’s early degrees in history and economics at École Normale Supérieure in Paris and her economics doctorate at MIT in 1999. Its biography describes research covering health, education, financial inclusion, environment and governance.
The same page identifies her as a J-PAL co-founder and co-director, with academic affiliations at MIT, the University of Zurich and the Collège de France. These verified institutional roles are more useful than an unsupported label suggesting she forecasts every economic development.
Awards and books
Duflo shared the 2019 economics prize with Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer. MIT also lists the 2010 John Bates Clark Medal. With Banerjee, she co-authored Poor Economics and Good Economics for Hard Times.
Keep the year of a degree, a medal and a shared prize on different lines. Each refers to a different milestone; combining them into one date can turn an otherwise accurate short profile into a misleading one.
Evaluation is a question about evidence
When reading about a social programme, ask what outcome was measured and what comparison was used. A desirable objective and evidence of an achieved result are different things. This is an editorial reading guide, not a quotation from Duflo or a claim that every programme has the same effect.
For an original study exercise, imagine two education programmes with identical slogans but different attendance measures. Before comparing them, identify the measurement period and participants. A headline about success is incomplete without those details. Read the linked faculty page for the career facts, then consult original studies for their methods and limitations. This background article does not report a new prize or claim current nationwide popularity.
Publication disclosure
This article was researched and published with AI assistance. No human prepublication review is claimed. Report factual errors through our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
When did Duflo earn her MIT doctorate?
In 1999.
Who shared the 2019 economics prize with her?
Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer.