The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) is a global research center based at MIT that works to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. Founded by MIT professors Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Sendhil Mullainathan, J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations of social programs and policy interventions, and works with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to scale up effective solutions.
J-PAL’s research spans topics such as education, health, agriculture, gender, governance, and climate change. The lab’s North America branch also focuses on domestic poverty issues. Below are recent news highlights from J-PAL and its affiliated researchers at MIT.
Recent News
- Innovative projects explore ways to deal with extreme heat – Low-cost personal cooling and emissions-free air conditioning among ideas studied with MIT’s Climate Project seed funding. (June 8, 2026)
- New J-PAL research and policy initiative to test and scale AI innovations to fight poverty – Project AI Evidence will connect governments, tech companies, and nonprofits with world-class economists to evaluate AI solutions. (February 12, 2026)
- “MIT Open Learning has opened doors I never imagined possible” – Munip Utama applies knowledge from the MITx MicroMasters Program in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy to his efforts supporting students in Indonesia. (January 29, 2026)
- A new lens on humanity – The inaugural MIT Human Insight Collaborative (MITHIC) Annual Event showcased the breadth of projects supported in the first year of the presidential initiative. (January 7, 2026)
- Introducing the MIT-GE Vernova Climate and Energy Alliance – Five-year collaboration aims to accelerate the energy transition and scale new innovations. (November 18, 2025)
- Climate Action Learning Lab helps state and local leaders identify and implement effective climate mitigation strategies – J-PAL North America’s inaugural Climate Action Learning Lab provided six U.S. cities and states with customized training. (September 15, 2025)
- J-PAL North America launches Initiative for Effective US Crime Policy – The IECP will generate rigorous evidence for fair and effective public safety solutions. (August 26, 2025)
- Transforming boating, with solar power – Solar electric vehicle pioneer James Worden ’89 brought his prototype solar electric boat to MIT. (August 22, 2025)
- Better public service with data – MIT master’s student and Brazilian diplomat Davi Augusto Oliveira Pinto wants to help policymakers make informed choices. (August 11, 2025)
- 3 Questions: Applying lessons in data, economics, and policy design to the real world – Gevorg Minasyan MAP ’23 draws on experiences in MIT’s programs to shape policymaking at the Central Bank of Armenia. (July 24, 2025)
- Study in India shows several tactics together boost vaccination against deadly diseases – One combination of methods led to a 44 percent increase in child immunizations. (May 19, 2025)
- New Alliance for Data, Evaluation and Policy Training will advance data-driven decision-making in public policy – ADEPT brings together universities, governments, and other members. (March 31, 2025)
- Study in India shows kids use different math skills at work vs. school – Students can excel at mental math in marketplace jobs but struggle with formal math in the classroom. (February 5, 2025)
- From refugee to MIT graduate student – Mlen-Too Wesley applies what he learned in an MITx MicroMasters program to help Liberia thrive. (December 3, 2024)
- J-PAL North America announces new evaluation incubator collaborators from state and local governments – Selected LEVER collaborators will work with the organization to evaluate programs that alleviate poverty. (November 15, 2024)