The University of Zurich welcomes Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee, two pioneers in the field of development economics. Both economists are currently employed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and will join the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics at the University of Zurich (UZH) in July 2026. In 2019, the couple was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics, along with economist Michael Kremer, for their “experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.”

Two new endowed professorships
Duflo and Banerjee will each assume an endowed professorship funded by the Lemann Foundation. With the foundation’s support, the economists will continue advancing their research on development economics and the impact of policy measures and interventions on education, poverty and health, while exploring how to improve their effectiveness.

“We are delighted that two of the world’s most influential economists are joining UZH,” says UZH President Michael Schaepman. “Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee combine scientific theory with social impact in their research, which is also a key concern for UZH. Their presence will strengthen the values and the international visibility of our university.”

Policy-relevant research in development and education
Duflo and Banerjee will establish and co-lead the new Lemann Center for Development, Education and Public Policy at UZH’s Department of Economics. The goal of the center will be to foster policy-relevant research, create new higher education pathways in the field of policy evaluation and development, and connect researchers and education policymakers worldwide. It will have a specific focus on fostering the relationship between UZH and researchers and policymakers in Brazil.

The two researchers also plan to expand the ADEPT program to UZH. ADEPT, which provides access to high-quality online classes and residential education for those who qualify based on performance, was originally launched by J-PAL, a global network of universities that teaches students and practitioners cutting-edge methods in program evaluation and development research. There are also plans for new Master-level courses hosted by the Lemann Center, along with scholarship opportunities for Brazilian students.

The establishment of the Lemann Center and the two endowed professorships are made possible through a generous CHF 26 million donation from the Lemann Foundation. The Lemann Foundation is a non-profit organization based in Sao Paolo, Brazil. It is committed to ensuring that scientific findings are translated into concrete education and development policy – in Brazil and beyond.

Jorge Paulo Lemann, founder and chairman of the board of the Lemann Foundation, says: “I am delighted about this new partnership, which adds another outstanding center of learning to our philanthropic initiative in the field of education. It reflects my great trust in Brazil and Switzerland, as well as in the strength that can arise from the two countries working together hand in hand. That’s why it has special significance for me and my family.”

Excellent environment
“The new Lemann Center will enable us to build on and expand our work, which bridges academic research, student mentorship and real-world policy impact,” says Duflo. The goal is to establish a center of excellence for research and teaching in development economics, in close collaboration with the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), the worldwide network of over 1,000 researchers that Duflo and Banerjee co-founded, and which has hubs in all continents, including in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

“I am especially enthusiastic about contributing to making the Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics at UZH an even more attractive place,” says Banerjee. “We have no doubt that the University of Zurich will be an excellent environment for us to pursue our research and policy work in the years to come.” He and Duflo have worked closely with the Department of Economics for many years, where several professors conduct research on education and development economics.

Florian Scheuer, who heads the Department of Economics, adds: “Welcoming Esther Duflo and Abhijit as our new colleagues marks a true quantum leap for our department. Beyond their groundbreaking research, they are equally renowned for their extraordinary commitment to nurturing students and faculty and to institution building, which I was able to experience firsthand as their student at MIT.”

Background
Esther Duflo is currently the Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Poverty Alleviation and Development Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). She also holds the Poverty and Public Policy chair at the Collège de France and serves as president of the Paris School of Economics. She is a Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Econometric Society.

Abhijit Banerjee is currently Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). In 2003, he co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) with Esther Duflo and Sendhil Mullainathan, and he also serves as one of the lab’s directors. Banerjee is a fellow of the National Academy of Sciences, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Econometric Society.
Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will continue to co-lead J-PAL, the worldwide network of economic researchers that they co-founded. They will retain part-time positions at MIT. In addition, Esther Duflo will resume teaching at the Collège de France in Paris.