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Benjamin Olken

Class of 1997-1998

About Benjamin

Benjamin Olken is a Professor of Economics at MIT. His research focuses on development economics, with a particular interest in improving the performance of the public sector in developing countries, including social protection programs, taxation, and quality of governance, and on environmental challenges in developing countries. He is a faculty Director of the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab at MIT, Co-Scientific Director of the Lab’s Southeast Asia office, and Co-Chair of the Lab’s Governance Initiative. Most of his academic work is baesd in Indonesia — following his time as a Luce Scholar during 1997-1998.

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