Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo to join University of Zurich in 2026

The couple, who currently teach at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with Michael Kremer for their “experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.”

Their move marks a major shift in the academic landscape, as they plan to establish a new development economics centre at UZH upon arrival.

Move from MIT amid research funding concerns

Although no official reason was given for their departure, reports suggest the decision comes amid concerns over shrinking research budgets and perceived threats to academic freedom in the United States. Experts say such moves could signal the beginning of a “brain drain,” as global institutions vie for top talent.

Duflo’s academic and leadership roles

Esther Duflo currently holds the position of Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Development Economics and Poverty Alleviation at MIT. She also chairs the Poverty and Public Policy department at the Collège de France and serves as president of the Paris School of Economics. Duflo is a fellow of the Econometric Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences.

Banerjee’s academic journey

Abhijit Banerjee, born in Mumbai to a family of economists, earned degrees from the University of Calcutta and Jawaharlal Nehru University before completing his PhD at Harvard University in 1998. He later taught at Princeton and Harvard before joining MIT as the Ford Foundation International Professor of Economics.

Banerjee and Duflo, who married in 2015, co-founded the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) alongside Sendhil Mullainathan. Banerjee is also a fellow of the Econometric Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences.

Lemann-backed centre for development research

Both economists will hold Lemann Foundation-endowed professorships at UZH and continue their research on poverty, health, and education programmes. The couple will also establish the Lemann Centre for Development, Education, and Public Policy within UZH’s Department of Economics.

The initiative is being supported by a CHF 26 million contribution from the Lemann Foundation, aimed at strengthening global research in development economics and policy implementation.