Dean Karlan

Dean Karlan is the Frederic Esser Nemmers Chair in Economics and Finance at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and co-Director of the Global Poverty Research Lab. Previously, he held roles at Yale University and Princeton University. He is known for research in poverty-focused microeconomics, employing experimental and behavioral economics methods to evaluate interventions in sectors like agriculture, credit markets, and health. Karlan co-founded Innovations for Poverty Action (IPA), ImpactMatters, and the commitment-contract platform stickK.com. His academic credentials include a PhD from MIT and degrees from the University of Chicago and University of Virginia.

Education:

• PhD in Economics, MIT, 2002
• MBA and MPP, University of Chicago, 1997
• BA in International Affairs, University of Virginia, 1990

Research Interests: Combining rigorous methodologies to assess poverty interventions, including randomized controlled trials. Key areas: savings and credit markets for low-income households, smallholder agriculture, entrepreneurship, and behavioral nudges for health and personal goals. His work spans over 20 countries, blending academic rigor with practical social impact.

Notable Achievements:

• Author of influential books including More Than Good Intentions and The Goldilocks Challenge
• Recipient of Presidential Early Career Award, Guggenheim Fellowship, and Sloan Fellowship
• Former Chief Economist at USAID (2022–2025)

Labs/Initiatives: Lead of Northwestern's Global Poverty Research Lab, Innovations for Poverty Action's finance programs, and MIT's Jameel Poverty Action Lab. Engages in scaling evidence-based interventions globally.