Skip to main content

Good Economics for Hard Times by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo

"An open mind and an evidence-based approach can lead to more effective and compassionate policies."

Just finished reading 'Good Economics for Hard Times' by Nobel laureates Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo ! 🌍📚 
Their insightful and well researched analysis of immigration, automation, inequality, and climate change offers fresh perspectives and practical solutions for today's biggest challenges. This book is a testament to the power of evidence-based economics and the importance of humility in policy-making. What economic issues are you most concerned about, and what solutions do you think are most effective? Let's discuss! 🤔💬

 
"Good Economics for Hard Times" is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of some of the most pressing economic issues of our time. Written by Nobel laureates Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo, the book delves into topics such as immigration, job displacement due to automation and trade, inequality, tribalism, and climate change. The authors combine economic analysis with understanding of human behavior to challenge conventional wisdom and offer fresh perspectives on how to address these challenges.
The book is structured around a series of case studies and empirical evidence, making it accessible to both economists and general readers. Banerjee and Duflo's writing is engaging and often humorous, bringing to life the real-world implications of economic policies. They argue for evidence-based approaches and emphasize the importance of small, incremental changes rather than grand, sweeping reforms. Through their analysis, they demonstrate that good economics can indeed lead to better outcomes for society.
One of the features of the book is its emphasis on humility and the recognition that there are no easy answers to the complex problems we face. The authors' willingness to question their own assumptions and consider alternative viewpoints makes this a credible read. "Good Economics for Hard Times" is a read for anyone interested in understanding the economic forces shaping our world and finding practical solutions to improve it.

Publisher - Juggernaut 
Pages - 350
Genre - Economics 
Price - Rs 499

ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Abhijit V. Banerjee is the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and a co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). He is a co-recipient of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2019 for his work on alleviating global poverty. In 2011, he was named one of Foreign Policy magazine's top one hun- dred global thinkers. Banerjee served on the UN Secretary-General's High-level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Esther Duflo is the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics in the Department of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a co-founder and co-director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL). The youngest and only second woman to be awarded the prize, she is a co-recipient of the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2019 for her work on alleviating global poverty. 
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Cutting people off isn’t strength—It is a trauma response

Your ability to cut people off and self-isolate is not a skill you should be proud of—It is a trauma response Cutting people off and self-isolating may feel like a protective shield, but it is often rooted in unresolved or unhealed trauma and an inability to depend on others. While these behaviors seem like self-preservation, they end up reinforcing isolation and blocking meaningful connections. Confronting these patterns, seeking therapy, and nurturing supportive relationships can help break this unhealthy cycle. Plus, a simple act like planting a jasmine plant can symbolise the start of your journey towards emotional healing. Why do we cut people off and isolate? If you’re someone who prides themselves on “cutting people off” or keeping a tight circle, you might believe it’s a skill—a way to protect yourself from betrayal, hurt, or unnecessary drama. I get it. I’ve been there, too. But here’s the thing: this ability to isolate yourself is not as empowering as it may seem. In fact, i...
Post a Comment
Read more

Epitome of Equality

First of all This is not to demean any religion.. I am a Hindu by birth, but yes I respect all religions .I offer my daily prayers , fast on holy days , but there was something that was disturbing me . God as per me was a Friend, someone who was by my side always , someone who was a dear friend , but this is not what everyone else thought , for others he was the Judge who gives his verdict always and punishes anyone and everyone . Walk into any temple and you would see , if you have money , you will be treated in a way as if you are the ONLY disciple of the God . I have had too many experiences where I was treated as a second class citizen in the temple . Why? Well I could not afford giving thousands as donation. This is not how it should be , God looks at each one of us with the same divinity .As I mentioned God for me is a friend, so tell me, do we chose friends based on their bank balances? Do we give our verdict on them ? then how can God do it? I know many of us would ...
32 comments
Read more

Does India need communal parties?

I think, it was Tan's post on this blog itself, Republic Day Event, where this question was raised. My answer. YES. we need communal parties even in Independent, Secular India. Now let me take you, back to events before 1947. When India was a colony of the British Empire. The congress party, in its attempt to gain momentum for the independence movement, heavily used Hinduism, an example of which is the famous Ganesh Utsav held in Mumbai every year. Who complains? No one. But at that time, due to various policies of the congress, Muslims started feeling alienated. Jinnah, in these times, got stubborn over the need of Pakistan and he did find a lot of supporters. Congress, up till late 1940's never got bothered by it. And why should we? Who complains? No one. But there were repercussions. The way people were butchered and slaughtered during that brief time when India got partitioned, was even worse than a civil war scenario. All in the name of religion. And there indeed was cr...
40 comments
Read more