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

Also read

Learning from Gardening

While composing status messages, just for fun, I simply jot down anything random that comes to my mind at the moment. Here is the latest FB message i posted few seconds ago. Tushar Mangl learns a lot from his gardening routine. Even when his plants die, he simply feels bad and then goes about to plan for new plants. Mostly because an empty space does not look that good. That is life for you. People will always go away from your life, at one point or another. But you cannot always leave the places vacan t. New plants have to be placed. Optimism has to exist for new flowers to bloom, new leaves to grow. Now, FB only gives me 422 characters to say my point. But my dear blogger, a companion of several years gives me much better platform to elaborate my thoughts. You see, in a flower bed I maintain near stairs of my house I had planted bougainvillea plants on either sides of the bed. As fate would have it, and given my nature of getting too attached to livi...
4 comments
Read more

A suggestion to break the loop of guilt, isolation, and emotional burnout?

Caught in a guilt spiral, isolating quietly, and wondering why rest doesn’t heal you? You’re not lazy—you’re carrying layers of unprocessed emotion and spiritual exhaustion. This is your invitation to pause, reflect, and reset. Let’s explore why you still feel stuck despite good intentions, and discover rituals, reflections, and real reconnection to help you come home to yourself. First Published on 20/06/2008 14:30 Second edition Published on 04/07/2025 12:51 Why do you keep spiraling despite good intentions? Let me ask you this. Have you ever written out a self-care plan so perfectly, maybe in a brand-new notebook—drink more water, meditate, go to therapy—and yet by day three you’re numbly binge-scrolling, wondering what’s broken now ? Yeah. Same. We don’t spiral because we’re undisciplined or lazy. We spiral because the emotional weight we’re carrying goes deeper than we admit. It's not about a missed workout or failing to reply to that one text. It's the inner tug-of...
2 comments
Read more

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