We are an academic hub for empirical development economics
We established the Global Poverty Research Lab in July 2017 at Northwestern University. Our lab aims to use empirical evidence and interdisciplinary engagement to understand drivers, consequences and solutions to poverty issues around the world.
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Interested in receiving occasional updates via our listserv or getting involved with the Lab? Please contact Poverty-Research@Northwestern.edu
Welcome Michael Mulford, Senior Director
The Global Poverty Research Lab (GPRL) at Northwestern University is pleased to announce the appointment of Michael Mulford as its new Senior Director. With over 20 years of experience leading multi-sectoral development programs and designing evidence-based strategies to address poverty, Michael brings a wealth of expertise in research, program leadership, and policy engagement.
Prior to joining GPRL, Michael served as Chief of Party for the Strengthen PSNP Institutions and Resilience (SPIR) program in Ethiopia, a $206M USAID-funded initiative, where he directed a team of over 1,500 staff supporting programming for more than 600,000 Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) clients. He led the design and implementation of six randomized controlled trials (RCTs), including research on the integration of mental health interventions into graduation programs. His research collaboration with colleagues at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) has contributed to policy-relevant findings published in peer-reviewed journals and presented through policy briefs and global development forums.
Michael holds a PhD in Development Economics from Wageningen University and an M.S. in Applied Economics and Management from Cornell University. He has also played a pivotal role in securing and managing large-scale grants, having successfully led the design and acquisition of over $300M in development funding for programs in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Welcome to GPRL, Michael!
New class offering Spring 2025
Doing Good: Insights from Economics, Philosophy, and Psychology
Co-listed ECON159 & INTL_ST290
See overview here.
This class will be taught by Dean Karlan, Professor of Economics and Finance, Northwestern University and Chief Economist, USAID
If you’d like to take this class, please submit a short application to take the class before Friday January 10th, 2025.