Abhijit Banerjee

Nobel-Prize winning economist Abhijit Banerjee discusses the world's largest UBI trial in Kenya. They touch on topics such as the impact of different UBI payment methods, digital device addiction, and the shift from traditional values to new virtues in society.

Do you ever stop to wonder if the way you see the world is how the world really is?  Economist Abhijit Banerjee has spent a lifetime asking himself this question. His answer: Our world views often don't reflect reality. The only way to get more accurate is to think like a scientist — even when you're not looking through a microscope. If you like this show, please check out our new podcast, My Unsung Hero! And if you’d like to support our work, you can do so at support.hiddenbrain.org.

Abhijit Banerjee, a Nobel laureate and MIT Professor, dives into the interplay of theory and practical economics, emphasizing that randomized trials are more than just data, but tests of theoretical hypotheses. He explores challenges like premature deindustrialization in emerging markets and shares insights on Kolkata's vibrant food scene, contrasting Indian and French sweets. The conversation also touches on Bengali intellectualism, the evolution of leftist thought, and the importance of enriching graduate economics training to connect theory with real-world applications.