Esther Duflo (Development Economist)

Esther Duflo is a prominent development economist known for her innovative approaches to alleviating global poverty. She co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), which uses rigorous research methods, including randomized controlled trials, to evaluate the effectiveness of social programs. Duflo’s work focuses on understanding what strategies actually help improve people's lives in developing countries, such as education, health care, and financial inclusion. In 2019, she was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, alongside her colleagues, for their pioneering work in poverty alleviation through empirical research and evidence-based policy-making.