

Esther Duflo
Nobel Prize–winning economist known for data-driven development economics; delivers the featured TED talk arguing for taxing the wealthy to fund climate justice and adaptation.
Top 5 podcasts with Esther Duflo
Ranked by the Snipd community

67 snips
Oct 15, 2025 • 12min
Tax the rich — and save the planet | Esther Duflo
 Esther Duflo, a Nobel Prize-winning economist, lays out a compelling case for taxing the wealthy to combat climate change. She reveals that rising temperatures will disproportionately affect poor countries, costing them $1.7 trillion annually due to emissions. Duflo discusses how a 3% wealth tax on the richest could generate significant revenue for climate adaptation efforts. She emphasizes the urgent need for direct cash transfers to those affected and proposes a new global agreement to restore trust in climate action among nations. 

18 snips
Nov 9, 2021 • 57min
Esther Duflo wants you to think like a plumber
 Esther Duflo, a Nobel laureate and MIT economist, transforms how we think about poverty and economics. She shares her early dislike for economics and how personal experiences fueled her passion. The conversation explores the importance of human motivation beyond just financial incentives, highlighting dignity and purpose. Duflo emphasizes economists as practical problem-solvers akin to plumbers, advocating for real-world applications of economic theories. With insights on social norms and behavior change, she inspires listeners to rethink solutions for complex global issues. 

17 snips
Jun 11, 2024 • 55min
Climat : les solutions de la prix Nobel Esther Duflo pour les pays pauvres
 Esther Duflo, économiste et Prix Nobel spécialisée dans la lutte contre la pauvreté, aborde les inégalités provoquées par le changement climatique. Elle jette un éclairage sur la nécessité de faire bénéficier les pays du Sud des promesses d'aide financière. Elle discute également des dilemmes rencontrés par des pays comme le Sénégal face aux énergies fossiles, et plaide pour une taxation des riches afin de financer des transitions durables. Enfin, elle souligne l'importance d'actions individuelles face à ces défis globaux. 

Dec 18, 2019 • 1h 2min
Esther Duflo on Management, Growth, and Research in Action
 Esther Duflo, a Nobel Prize-winning economist and co-founder of J-PAL, shares her transformative journey from observing economic practices in the Soviet Union to advising governments on poverty reduction. She discusses how mentorship amplifies cash transfers, the dangers of fixating solely on growth rates, and the unique child-rearing practices in France. Duflo also reflects on geographic mobility decline in the U.S. and what rock climbing teaches about empirical economics, while intertwining her daily life experiences with music. 

Nov 9, 2021 • 57min
Esther Duflo wants you to think like a plumber
 Esther Duflo, a Nobel laureate and MIT economist renowned for her work on poverty alleviation, shares her fascinating journey from disliking economics to revolutionizing its approach. She debunks myths linking poverty to laziness, revealing how support systems like cash transfers can encourage work. Duflo emphasizes the importance of behavioral changes over mere attitude shifts and likens economists to plumbers, highlighting the practical problem-solving needed to tackle global challenges. Insightful and engaging, her perspective reshapes our understanding of economic issues. 


