The Challenge of World Poverty
Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo's MIT course asks whether economics can offer real answers to persistent global poverty. Lessons work through concrete questions: what daily life looks like on under a dollar a day, why some countries grow while others stagnate, whether microfinance delivers on its promises, and whether foreign aid helps or hinders development. Topics include famine, child labor, disease burden, property rights, globalization, and the roles of markets, governments, and NGOs in development policy. The course draws on the instructors' field research and randomized-trial approach to development economics, part of the MITx MicroMasters in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy. Materials include video lectures, readings, and assignments through MITx Online. Auditing is free; a certificate is available for a fee based on the learner's ability to pay.