On Friday 8 November 2019, Erasmus School of Economics welcomed the 2019 Nobel Prize winner in Economics, Professor Esther Duflo. In a crowded lecture room with faculty members and students, she gave an inspirational keynote, with a direct reference to her latest book entitled: 'Good Economics for Hard Times'.
Esther Duflo, who wrote her latest book together with husband and co-winner of the Nobel Prize, Abhijit Banerjee, told the audience about how she had the strong feeling she needed to solve the problems of the poorest persons. By studying economics, Duflo hoped to be able to contribute on this topic.
In her lecture, she argued that we have to work past the clichés. ‘I want people to understand that being poor doesn't mean that you are irresponsible or stupid.’ Wealthy people are mostly better protected against short-term thinking, for example because part of their wages is automatically set aside for their pension, or because they have health insurance. Many of those choices are made for them beforehand. When you are poor, this help is missing.
Interesting interview by Dutch media
Just before Duflo’s lecture at Erasmus School of Economics, editors Daan Ballegeer and Yrla van de Ven (alumnus, Policy Economics) had an exclusive interview with her for the Dutch daily newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad and the non-peer-reviewed economic journal Economisch Statistische Berichten. The article can be viewed below (in Dutch).