Poor Economics Book Study
Exploring Poverty Through Evidence-Based Economics
A collaborative reading and discussion series centered on Poor Economics by Abhijit V. Banerjee and Esther Duflo.
Our group will gather virtually to discuss Poor Economics by Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo. Through thoughtful conversation and shared reflection, we will deepen our understanding of poverty and consider how each of us might contribute to addressing its causes and consequences.
Whether you come with extensive experience in policy and service or simply a desire to learn, you are welcome in this dialogue.
Why This Book?
Poor Economics challenges assumptions about poverty and the people who experience it. Banerjee and Duflo invite readers to move beyond broad generalizations and consider the complex realities that shape human choices.
Who are we?
We’ll exchange names and introductions when we meet online the first time. Suffice it to say that our group includes individuals from a variety of professional backgrounds, some retired and some in current practice. Some of us are educators, and some come with public heath backgrounds. Some have been attorneys, and some have been physicians.
Our Goals
As we read and discuss Poor Economics, we hope to:
Correct broad assumptions we may have made about poverty that could limit our ability to understand the experiences of others or diminish our effectiveness in making a difference.
Imagine the role each of us can play in reducing poverty and/or its effects, drawing on our professional expertise, community involvement, and personal commitments.
Our conversations will emphasize both learning and action—recognizing that meaningful change often begins with informed understanding.
Participants are encouraged to read thoughtfully, ask questions openly, and engage critically with both the evidence and the ethical implications of development policy.
No formal background in economics is required.
Session Schedule
Session 1 - week of June 22
Read the Introduction and Chapter 1: Think Again, Again
Session 2 - week of July 6
Theme: Hunger and Health
Chapter 2 “A Billion Hungry People?” and Chapter 3 “Low Hanging Fruit for Better (Global) Health”
Why do individuals sometimes avoid beneficial health interventions?
How do incentives affect public health outcomes?
Session 3 - week of July 20
Theme: Education and Population
Chapter 4 “Top of the Class” and Chapter 5 “Pak Sudarno's Big Family”
What barriers exist beyond access to schooling?
How should educational success be measured?
Session 4 - week of August 3
Theme: Risk, Insurance, and Credit
Chapter 6 “Barefoot Hedge-Fund Managers” and Chapter 7 “The Men from Kabul and the Eunuchs of India: The (Not So) Simple Economics of Lending to the Poor”
Why are the poor often risk-averse?
What role does microfinance realistically play?
Session 5 - week of August 17
Theme: Entrepreneurship, Savings, and Policy
Chapter 8 “Saving Brick By Brick” and Chapter 9 “Reluctant Entrepreneurs” and Chapter 10 “Policies, Politics”
What misconceptions exist about entrepreneurship among the poor?
Which policies appear most effective?