Does the aid world exaggerate the benefits of microloans? How much do they help? Nicholas Kristof presents a "thoughtful, evidence-based analysis" by IPA Research Affiliates Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo, and Dean Karlan.

An article in the Financial Times examines the evidence from three microfinance trials (two microcredit trials in the Philippines and India and one microsavings study in Kenya) undertaken by IPA Research Affiliates.

IPA President Dean Karlan and Project Associate Kareem Haggag discuss the findings of research on matching grants in charitable giving:

Many foundations and non-profits run campaigns to increase public awareness of a particular issue and to motivate donations. Recently, some foundations have also begun thinking of their donations as a catalyst enabling a non-profit to raise even more funds from other donors. Similarly, non-profits often approach foundations seeking a gift that they can use to motivate other givers.

IPA President and Founder Dean Karlan contributes to a BBC Radio 4 Program on the State of Microfinance.  Other contributors include Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank, Syed Hashemi of BRAC, and Stuart Rutherford of SafeSave.  Listen to the program here.

In this Editorial, IPA Research Affiliate Abhijit Banerjee responds to coverage of the results of two recent microcredit impact evaluations in the Philippines and in India, and highlights important insights that many discussions in the media have overlooked.