Nobel laureates Banerjee and Duflo to join University of Zurich, launch Lemann Center for Development Economics
Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo are two Nobel laureates from the United States. They will shortly depart the country to join the University of Zurich, where they will create a new center for development economics.
Aadrika Tayal 
New Delhi (India) October 12: United States Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo will join the University of Zurich's (UZH) Department of Economics next year. This is to create a new center for development economics. Many academics are referring to it as a "dream hire."
University President Michael Schaepman said, "We are delighted that two of the world's most influential economists are joining UZH."
Landmark hire for Zurich’s economics department
The married pair are presently employed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). They will join the University of Zurich's (UZH) economics faculty in July of next year. Their reasons for leaving MIT were not made clear in the announcement.
Florian Scheuer, UBS Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics wrote, “I am delighted to share that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will join our Department of Economics at the University of Zurich on July 1, 2026, as Lemann Foundation Professors of Economics,” in a post on social media platform X.
Concerns over U.S. research funding cuts
Their action comes as many academics are warning that prominent researchers may be leaving the US. Other countries are quickly trying to recruit them due to US President Donald Trump's severe reductions to research funding and growing political hostility toward colleges.
French-American Duflo has openly criticized what she describes as "unprecedented attacks" on American science. She and Banerjee will continue to work in Switzerland and hold part-time positions at MIT.
Funding support from Brazil’s Lemann Foundation
The newly founded Lemann Center for Development, Education, and Public Policy at UZH will be co-led by Duflo and Banerjee. This significant project is funded by a CHF 26 million (USD 32 million) contribution from the Lemann Foundation in Brazil.
The new Lemann Center seeks to connect scholars and policymakers across continents, particularly between Switzerland and Brazil. This will also promote research that is relevant to policy. It also seeks to establish new academic paths in development and policy evaluation.
Esther Duflo said, “The new Lemann Center will enable us to build on and expand our work that bridges research, student mentorship and real-world policy impact.”
Abhijit Banerjee also added, “We have no doubt that the University of Zurich will be an excellent environment for us to pursue our research and policy work in the years to come.”
ADEPT program and global policy collaboration to continue
The pair will also bring their ADEPT program to Zurich. This learning effort was initially started by their research network J-PAL (Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab). It also aims to provide outstanding training in program assessment and development research to students and politicians.
The couple with Michael Kremer were awarded the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economics. This is for their "experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.”
