Esther Duflo is a pioneering economist whose work has reshaped the global understanding of poverty and development. Born on October 25, 1972, in Paris, she grew up in an environment that encouraged intellectual curiosity and social awareness. From an early age she showed a strong interest in understanding why inequality persists and how real change can be created for the world’s poorest communities.
Duflo’s academic journey led her to pursue economics at the École Normale Supérieure and later at MIT, where she eventually became one of the youngest faculty members. Her groundbreaking research centered on a simple yet powerful idea. Instead of relying on broad theories, she believed that fighting poverty required careful observation, field experiments, and evidence gathered from real lives in real communities. This practical approach became the foundation of a new movement in development economics.
Along with Abhijit Banerjee and Michael Kremer, Duflo helped develop the use of randomized controlled trials in economics. These experiments tested small, focused interventions such as providing free textbooks, offering incentives for school attendance, or improving access to healthcare. The results revealed which policies worked and which did not. Her work showed governments and global organizations how to design better programs that genuinely improve lives.
In 2019, Esther Duflo became the youngest person and the second woman to receive the Nobel Prize in Economics, an achievement that underlined her influence on modern economic thinking. Her Nobel-winning approach brought scientific precision to the fight against poverty and changed the way policymakers design social programs.
Beyond her research, Duflo is admired for her humility, clarity of thought, and deep commitment to social justice. She co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab(J-PAL), which now operates worldwide to ensure that public policies are based on evidence rather than assumptions. Through lectures, books, and global collaborations, she inspires a new generation of economists who believe that rigorous research can create meaningful social change.
Esther Duflo’s journey reflects a powerful message. With curiosity, persistence, and compassion, knowledge can be used as a tool to build a fairer and more hopeful world.