Ajay Kumar at 13:01, 19 September 2023

2023-09-19T13:01:06Z

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{{short description|Global research center working to reduce poverty}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab
| logo = J-PAL_Logo.png
| type = Academic center
| founded_date = June 2003
| founder =
| location = [[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]], [[United States of America]] 
| origins = [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]
| key_people = [[Esther Duflo]], [[Abhijit Banerjee]], [[Benjamin Olken]], [https://www.povertyactionlab.org/dhaliwal Iqbal Dhaliwal]
| area_served = Global
| product =
| focus = Randomized impact evaluation in areas including [[Microfinance]], [[Public health|Public Health]], [[Agriculture]], and more; training and capacity building; policy outreach
| method =
| revenue =
| endowment =
| num_volunteers =
| num_employees =
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| owner =
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.povertyactionlab.org/}}
| dissolved =
| footnotes =
}}
The '''Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab''' ('''J-PAL''') is a global research center working to reduce poverty by ensuring that policy is informed by scientific evidence. J-PAL conducts randomized impact evaluations to answer critical questions in the fight against poverty, and builds partnerships with governments, [[NGO]]s, donors, and others to generate new research, share knowledge, and scale up effective programs.<ref name=autogenerated2>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bostonreview.net/BR36.2/glennerster_kremer_behavioral_economics_global_development.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806185719/http://www.bostonreview.net/BR36.2/glennerster_kremer_behavioral_economics_global_development.php|url-status=dead|title=Boston Review — Rachel Glennerster and Michael Kremer: Small Changes, Big Results For The World's Poor|archive-date=August 6, 2011}}</ref>

==History and mission==

J-PAL was founded in 2003 as the "Poverty Action Lab" by professors [[Abhijit Banerjee]], [[Esther Duflo]] and [[Sendhil Mullainathan]]. J-PAL was established to support randomized evaluations measuring interventions against poverty on topics ranging from agriculture and health to governance and education. The Lab was renamed in honor of [[Abdul Latif Jameel|Sheikh Abdul Latif Jameel]] when his son, MIT alumnus Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, supported it with three major endowments in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2005/gift.html|title=MIT alumnus backs Poverty Action Lab with 3 major endowments|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> He further endowed its activities in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=123064&d=31&m=5&y=2009&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom|title=Arab News|website=Arab News|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>

A 2010 ''[[Business Week]]'' story, "The Pragmatic Rebels", termed J-PAL's approach that of "a new breed of skeptical empiricists committed to assiduous testing and tangible results".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-07-02/the-pragmatic-rebels|title=The Pragmatic Rebels|newspaper=Bloomberg.com |date=2 July 2010|access-date=14 March 2018|via=www.bloomberg.com}}</ref> According to [[Nicolas Kristof]], J-PAL has led a "revolution in evaluation";<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/books/review/Kristof-t.html|title=How Can We Help the World's Poor?|first=Nicholas|last=Kristof|date=20 November 2009|access-date=14 March 2018|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> its philosophy and methods are part of a larger trend towards "applying behavioral economics to global development."<ref name=autogenerated2 /> In his review of Banerjee and Duflo's book ''[[Poor Economics]]'', [[Bill Gates]] wrote: "To me, what's really great about J-PAL is that it's producing scientific evidence that can help make our anti-poverty efforts more effective."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Books/Development/Poor-Economics|title=Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty book review by Bill Gates|access-date=14 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511101856/http://www.thegatesnotes.com/Books/Development/Poor-Economics|archive-date=2013-05-11|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Activities==
Although J-PAL was founded as a research center, its activities have expanded to encompass three areas: impact evaluations, policy outreach, and capacity building.

To date, a network of over 170 J-PAL affiliated professors has carried out more than 948 evaluations in 81 countries, and J-PAL has trained over 1,500 people in impact evaluation.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/about-j-pal|title=About us |publisher=The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab|website=www.povertyactionlab.org|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org|title=Home |publisher= The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab|website=www.povertyactionlab.org|access-date=29 May 2019}}</ref> These evaluations include everything from an analysis of the effectiveness of glasses in China in improving student test scores<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.povertyactionlab.org/evaluation/impact-eyeglasses-academic-performance-primary-school-students-china|title=The Impact of Eyeglasses on the Academic Performance of Primary School Students in China |publisher=The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> to a study on the value of [[deworming]] to improve student attendance and academic performance in Kenya.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/case-study/deworming-increase-school-attendance|title=Deworming to increase school attendance|access-date=31 December 2021}}</ref> This work, by [[Michael Kremer]] and [[Edward Miguel]], provided the impetus for the [[Deworm the World]] initiative, which has since reached over 20 million children. Another J-PAL researcher, [[Nava Ashraf]], recently completed work on innovative channels to ease the load of overburdened health care workers in Zambia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://techtv.mit.edu/collections/povertyactionlab:1890/videos/10500-nava-ashraf-j-pal-africa-launch|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828191058/http://techtv.mit.edu/collections/povertyactionlab%3A1890/videos/10500-nava-ashraf-j-pal-africa-launch|url-status=dead|title=MIT TechTV – Nava Ashraf, J-PAL Africa Launch|archive-date=August 28, 2011}}</ref> An evaluation in India by J-PAL Directors [[Esther Duflo]], [[Abhijit Banerjee]], and [[Rachel Glennerster]], together with Dhruva Kothari, found that full immunization rates increased dramatically with the introduction of small incentives for parents, coupled with reliable services at convenient mobile clinics.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/publication/incentives-immunization|title=Incentives for Immunization | The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab|website=Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL)}}</ref>

As part of its capacity-building efforts, J-PAL offers courses to help implementers, policymakers, and researchers become better producers and users of evidence and equip learners worldwide with skills in data analysis and economics. Offerings include open enrollment courses, custom workshops, online courses, and trainings for research staff. J-PAL has created an online MicroMasters credential in cooperation with MITx and a Diploma in Impact Evaluation with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/training|title=J-PAL Training and Education|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref> In 2019, J-PAL launched the blended MIT Master's in Data, Economics, and Development Policy, combining online learning with residential education at MIT and intensive internships. The master's program will equip outstanding students with the skills they need to create evidence-based change in their communities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/sites/default/files/documents/2018-annual-report-web-ready.pdf|title=2018 Annual Report|access-date=3 June 2019}}</ref>

==Structure==
J-PAL's headquarters (Global office) is a center within the Economics Department of the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]] (MIT), with regional offices in Africa, Europe, Latin America, North America, South Asia, and Southeast Asia that are hosted by a local university:
* J-PAL Europe ([[Paris]], [[France]]), established in 2007 with the [[Paris School of Economics]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=110863&d=14&m=6&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom|title=Arab News|website=Arab News|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
* J-PAL South Asia ([[Chennai]], [[India]]), established in 2007 with the [[Institute for Financial Management and Research]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=98643&d=18&m=7&y=2007&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom|title=Arab News|website=Arab News|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
* J-PAL Latin America and Caribbean ([[Santiago]], [[Chile]]), established in 2009 with the [[Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile|Pontifícia Universidad Católica]]
* J-PAL Africa ([[Cape Town]], [[South Africa]]), established in 2011 with the [[University of Cape Town]] at [http://www.saldru.uct.ac.za SALDRU]
* J-PAL Southeast Asia ([[Jakarta]], [[Indonesia]]), based at the Institute for Economic and Social Research within the Faculty of Economics at the University of Indonesia (LPEM FEB-UI)<ref>[http://www.povertyactionlab.org/southeast-asia J-PAL's regional office in Southeast Asia, based at the University of Indonesia]. Official J-PAL website. Retrieved 2013-8-23</ref>
* J-PAL North America ([[Cambridge, Massachusetts|Cambridge]], [[Massachusetts]]), established in 2013 with the [[Massachusetts Institute of Technology]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://shass.mit.edu/news/news-2013-mits-jameel-poverty-action-lab-launches-regional-office-north-america|title= News – 2013 – MIT's Jameel Poverty Action Lab launches regional office for North America|website=shass.mit.edu|access-date=14 March 2018|publisher=MIT SHASS}}</ref>

J-PAL is organized both by these regional offices and by research themes called sector programs. Programs are led by members of the organization's board of directors, and cover eight areas:
* Agriculture
* Crime
* Education
* Energy and Environment
* Finance
* Health
* Labor Markets
* Political Economy & Governance

J-PAL is currently led by Professors Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Ben Olken as Faculty Directors and Iqbal Dhaliwal as the Global Executive Director.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Board Members|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/board-members|url-status=live|website=J-PAL|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160317041530/https://www.povertyactionlab.org/board-members |archive-date=2016-03-17 }}</ref> J-PAL's Board of Directors sets the vision and strategy for the organization and includes the Global Directors and executive director, Regional Scientific Directors and executive directors, and Chairs of the Sector Programs. In 2019, J-PAL co-founders Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo, and long time research affiliate Michael Kremer were awarded the Nobel prize in economics "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/news/release-j-pal-co-founders-abhijit-banerjee-and-esther-duflo-awarded-nobel-memorial-prize|title=J-PAL Co-Founders and Affiliate awarded 2019 Nobel Prize}}</ref>

==Partnerships==

[[Innovations for Poverty Action]] (IPA) is a close partner of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). The two organizations share a common mission and take similar methodological approaches to development policy evaluation, though J-PAL works through universities and makes use of academic resources, while IPA, as a nonprofit, operates through country offices. Both organizations have pioneered the use of [[randomized evaluation]]s to study the effectiveness of development interventions worldwide and have collaborated extensively on field studies involving randomized evaluations. A number of J-PAL Affiliates are also IPA Research Affiliates or IPA Research Network Members. The work of both organizations is featured in the popular press books ''[[More Than Good Intentions]]'' by [[Dean Karlan]] and Jacob Appel, and in Banerjee and Duflo's 2011 book, ''Poor Economics'', which was chosen as the 2011 [[Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/work-careers/business-book-award|title=FT & McKinsey Business Book of the Year Award|website=Financial Times|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>

Other J-PAL research partners include the Centre for Micro Finance,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ifmr.ac.in/cmf/|title=IFMR-Centre for Micro Finance|date=July 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717131028/http://ifmr.ac.in/cmf/|archive-date=2011-07-17}}</ref> [[Harvard Kennedy School]]'s Center for International Development's Micro-Development Initiative, the [[Center of Evaluation for Global Action]], Ideas 42,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ideas42.iq.harvard.edu/|title=ideas42 | Asking the Right Questions|date=June 25, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625103215/http://ideas42.iq.harvard.edu/|archive-date=2011-06-25}}</ref> [[Educate! (nonprofit)|Educate!]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.povertyactionlab.org/partners/educate|title=Educate! |publisher= The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab|website=www.povertyactionlab.org|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref> and the Small Enterprise Finance Center.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ifmr.ac.in/sefc/|title=IFMR - Small Enterprise Finance Centre: Applied research for SME development|date=July 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731161819/http://www.ifmr.ac.in/sefc/|archive-date=2011-07-31}}</ref>

==Experiments and findings in India==
J-PAL has conducted extensive work in India. Below are some examples of experiments and findings in India:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/archive/02134/Duflo_JPAL_infogra_2134782a.jpg|title=J-PAL in India|website=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
* Teaching at the Right Level: J-PAL-affiliated researchers partnered with the organization [[Pratham]] to conduct numerous randomized evaluations of their Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) approach. The research shows that TaRL consistently improves learning when implemented well.<ref>{{cite journal |author1=Abhijit Banerjee |author2=Rukmini Banerji |author3=James Berry |author4=Esther Duflo |author5=Harini Kannan |author6=Shobhini Mukerji |author7=Marc Shotland |author8=Michael Walton |title=From Proof of Concept to Scalable Policies: Challenges and Solutions, with an Application.|journal=Journal of Economic Perspectives |date=2017 |volume=31 |issue=4 |pages=73–102 |doi=10.1257/jep.31.4.73|doi-access=free }}</ref>
* AP [[Smartcards]]: Assessed impact of Smartcards on leakages in MGNREGS and social security pensions in AP and found that it reduced time taken by beneficiaries to receive payments, reduced leakages, and increased user satisfaction.
* [[Haryana]] Schools: Experimented with teaching students at their actual learning levels, rather than the grade they are in. Such students did better at Hindi but no better at maths.
* Bihar [[MGNREGA]]: Conducted 12 districts and is testing impact on payment delays and corruption in a new official system of funds release.
* [[Rajasthan Police]]: Conducted between 2005 and 2008, the study involved sending decoys to police stations with fictitious complaints, and analyzing how many cases were actually registered, as well as how policing could be improved.
* [[Delhi]] Deworming: Conducted in 2001–02, showed giving iron, [[vitamin A]] supplements and [[deworming]] drugs to 2- to 6-year-old children through [[balwadis]] greatly increased their weight and school participation.
* [[Udaipur]] Absent Teachers: In 2003, showed how financial incentives and fines increased teacher attendance, leading to improved learning outcomes for students.
* [[Gujarat]] Pollution Auditing: Experimented with third party pollution audits of industrial firms paid for by a central pool, instead of by the firm itself; found that such independently paid for auditors reported higher levels of pollution.
* Nurse Attendance: Showed monitoring nurses attendance and fining them for absenteeism led to dramatic improvement in attendance until local administration undermined the scheme.

==Awards==
* 2008: J-PAL receives [[BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award]] for Development Cooperation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/jpal-award-0120.html|title=J-PAL captures major new international award|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
* 2009: [[Abhijit Banerjee]] receives inaugural [[Infosys Prize]]
* 2010: [[Esther Duflo]] and [[Sendhil Mullainathan]] named among [[Foreign Policy]]'s Top 100 Global Thinkers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/11/28/the-fp-top-100-global-thinkers-6/|title=The FP Top 100 Global Thinkers|access-date=14 March 2018}}</ref>
* 2010: [[Esther Duflo]] receives [[John Bates Clark Medal]]
* 2010: Erica Field receives [[Elaine Bennett Research Prize]]
* 2011: ''[[Poor Economics]]'' chosen as [[Financial Times and Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award]].<ref name=autogenerated1 />
* 2014: J-PAL, [[Abhijit Banerjee]], and [[Esther Duflo]] awarded [[Social Science Research Council|The Social Science Research Council's]] [[Albert O. Hirschman]] Prize<ref>{{cite web|title=Statement of Commendation|url=http://www.ssrc.org/hirschman/2014-statement-of-commendation|website=The Social Science Research Council Albert O. Hirschmann Prize|access-date=15 January 2015|archive-date=3 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140403124450/http://www.ssrc.org/hirschman/2014-statement-of-commendation|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1997, 2002, 2009: [[John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation|The MacArthur Foundation]] awarded grants to [[Esther Duflo]] (2009), [[Sendhil Mullainathan]] (2002), and [[Michael Kremer]] (1997)
* 2019: [[Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel]] has been awarded to Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer "for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty."

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://www.povertyactionlab.org/ Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab]
* [https://www.poverty-action.org/ Innovations for Poverty Action]

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[[Category:Massachusetts Institute of Technology research institutes]]
[[Category:Economic research institutes]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Massachusetts]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2003]]
[[Category:Research on poverty]]

Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 13:01, 19 September 2023