Esther Duflo

Esther Duflo (born 1972) is a French economist whose research has helped popularize randomized controlled trials as a tool for evaluating anti-poverty and development policies. She is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a co-founder of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), which supports evidence-based approaches to improving lives in low- and middle-income countries. In 2019, Duflo shared the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences with Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer for their experimental approach to alleviating global poverty. Her work spans education, health, and social policy, combining rigorous field experiments with practical policy engagement.