Abhijit V. Banerjee Books

For decades, the dominant story of economics was that growth was the tide that lifts all boats. If nations could expand their GDP fast enough, inequality would eventually shrink. Yet, as we look around the world today, that story rings hollow. Growth has not delivered for everyone. Median wages in m...

From Good Economics for Hard Times: Better Answers to Our Biggest Problems

Immigration is perhaps the issue most clouded by fear and misinformation. In many countries, people believe immigrants take jobs from natives, depress wages, and strain public services. Yet decades of empirical research tell a different story. When economists trace the data carefully — studying citi...

From Good Economics for Hard Times: Better Answers to Our Biggest Problems

We began our inquiry by simply asking: what does daily economic life look like for someone surviving on less than two dollars a day? It’s a vivid picture of resilience and complexity. The poor may not have bank accounts, but they engage in intricate financial management, borrowing and lending from r...

From Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty

It might seem obvious that spending on health and nutrition is vital. Yet, in many poor communities, people routinely underinvest in preventive care and healthy diets. Why? The answer lies in perception and experience. The poor often distrust the health system: clinics may be far away, doctors may n...

From Poor Economics: A Radical Rethinking of the Way to Fight Global Poverty