Dean Karlan
Testimonials
Anyone serious about aid, philanthropy, or impact investing should read [More Than Good
Intentions], maybe a couple of times.
- Kevin Starr, Stanford Social Innovation Review
More Than Good Intentions is a must-read for anyone interested in improving the well being of
poor people.
- Africa Policy Journal of Harvard
One way to think of the book is the foreign bureau of Nudge. Basically, it’s an account of what
we learn from Dean’s intersecting interests – behavioral economics, field surveys, and (yes)
randomized control trials. If you want insight on the latest frontier in development economics,
you should buy it. If you’re one of those people that are on the frontier, buy it for your mom.
Finally she will understand what you do for a living.
- Chris Blattman, Assistant Professor of Political Science & Economics, Yale University
[More Than Good Intentions is] an absolutely essential read for development economics and aid
practitioners.
- Diane Coyle, OBE, Author of The Economics of Enough
I’d recommend More Than Good Intentions to any nonprofit board member interested in
learning more about RCTs and how they might be used to determine how their nonprofit can
have the greatest impact.
- Saundra Schimmelpfennig, Good Intentions Are Not Enough
The value is high for any reader who really wants to know where donor funds can make a
difference.
- Laura Starita, Philanthropy Action
A sprightly read that offers many eye-opening, real-world examples of how international
development aid can actually work… The book seethes with the scientific rigor and fact-based
optimism that ought to exemplify American foreign aid.
313 Washington Street, Suite 225 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com
- Miller-McCune
The book illustrates what most development practitioners know and many funders forget: one
size does not fit all.
- Andrew Kingman, Alliance Magazine
Engaging prose… vivid reportage… an enlightening and optimistic take on smartening up
development aid.
- Publishers Weekly
What does it take to fight global poverty? More money? Better intentions? Actually, Yale
economist Karlan and field researcher Appel instead advocate making small but indelible
changes in banking practices, health care, and more to improve the lives of the poor. And
they’re not armchair pedants; they traveled the world to get the ideas furnished in this book.
Good work for informed readers.
- Library Journal
Karlan is one of the most creative and prolific young economists in the world. His research lies at
the intersection of two of the hottest areas in the field: behavioral economics and development
microfinance... [His and Appel’s book is] a good follow-up to Freakonomics, Predictably
Irrational, and Nudge with a development and poverty spin.
- Richard Thaler, Professor of Behavioral Science & Economics, The University of Chicago
Co-Author of Nudge
More Than Good Intentions is an accessible account of “the new development economics”
based on field experiments and randomized control trials... Valuable, insightful... Anyone
interested in a readable discussion of this truly new approach to poverty should pick up this
book.
- Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics, George Mason University
Author of The Age of the Infovore and Marginal Revolution blog
The most urgent challenge in the world is economic development, and Karlan is right at its
cutting edge... An important book – and a captivating one.
- Tim Harford, The Financial Times
Author of The Undercover Economist and The Logic of Life
313 Washington Street, Suite 225 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com
The types of research that Dean Karlan and his colleagues at Innovations for Poverty Action
conduct are critical for helping foundations like the Ford Foundation.
- Frank deGiovanni, Director of Economic Development, Ford Foundation
Chair of the Executive Committee, Consultative Group to Assist the Poor
Karlan offers that all-too-rare combination of academic research excellence and its application
to international development practice. Karlan is creating a breakthrough.
- Chris Dunford, President of Freedom from Hunger
Karlan is one of the world's leading experts on microfinance in developing countries, and he's
done pioneering research around the globe. His work smashes old boundaries within economics
to answer some of the most pressing issues facing poor countries today. Most of what we know
today about how to make microfinance work for the poor flows from Dean's research.
- Edward Miguel, Professor, Economics Department, U.C.-Berkeley
313 Washington Street, Suite 225 | Newton, MA 02458 | Phone: 617.614.1600 | Fax: 617.965.6610 | apbspeakers.com