News
October 12, 2025
Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo will leave US for Switzerland following MIT snub to Trump's deal
The University of Zurich announced that Nobel laureates Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee will be joining its economics faculty next July to establish a centre for development economics, leaving their positions at MIT.
**Nobel Laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo to Establish Development Economics Center in Zurich, Leaving MIT**
Zurich, Switzerland – In a significant development for the field of development economics, the University of Zurich has announced that Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo will be joining its faculty in July. The renowned economists, currently professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will establish a new center dedicated to the study and advancement of development economics at the Swiss university.
This move marks a major coup for the University of Zurich and signals a shift in the landscape of academic research in economics. Banerjee and Duflo, who jointly won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019 along with Michael Kremer, are celebrated for their pioneering work in using experimental approaches to alleviate global poverty. Their research has had a profound impact on policy-making in developing countries, influencing programs related to education, healthcare, and microfinance.
While the University of Zurich's announcement lauded the arrival of the esteemed scholars, details surrounding their departure from MIT remain somewhat opaque. Reports suggest a potential connection to MIT's handling of a deal involving former US President Donald Trump, though the specifics of this connection have not been officially confirmed by either Banerjee, Duflo, or MIT.
Whatever the underlying reasons, the decision by Banerjee and Duflo to relocate to Zurich underscores the growing importance of European institutions in attracting top-tier academic talent. The new center at the University of Zurich promises to be a hub for cutting-edge research, attracting scholars and students from around the world eager to learn from and collaborate with these leading figures in the field.
The University of Zurich expressed its excitement about the arrival of Banerjee and Duflo, highlighting the potential for the center to contribute significantly to the understanding and alleviation of poverty. Their expertise will undoubtedly enhance the university's reputation as a leading center for economic research and provide invaluable opportunities for students and researchers alike. The move is anticipated to further solidify Zurich's position as a global center for economic thought and innovation.
Zurich, Switzerland – In a significant development for the field of development economics, the University of Zurich has announced that Nobel laureates Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo will be joining its faculty in July. The renowned economists, currently professors at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), will establish a new center dedicated to the study and advancement of development economics at the Swiss university.
This move marks a major coup for the University of Zurich and signals a shift in the landscape of academic research in economics. Banerjee and Duflo, who jointly won the Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences in 2019 along with Michael Kremer, are celebrated for their pioneering work in using experimental approaches to alleviate global poverty. Their research has had a profound impact on policy-making in developing countries, influencing programs related to education, healthcare, and microfinance.
While the University of Zurich's announcement lauded the arrival of the esteemed scholars, details surrounding their departure from MIT remain somewhat opaque. Reports suggest a potential connection to MIT's handling of a deal involving former US President Donald Trump, though the specifics of this connection have not been officially confirmed by either Banerjee, Duflo, or MIT.
Whatever the underlying reasons, the decision by Banerjee and Duflo to relocate to Zurich underscores the growing importance of European institutions in attracting top-tier academic talent. The new center at the University of Zurich promises to be a hub for cutting-edge research, attracting scholars and students from around the world eager to learn from and collaborate with these leading figures in the field.
The University of Zurich expressed its excitement about the arrival of Banerjee and Duflo, highlighting the potential for the center to contribute significantly to the understanding and alleviation of poverty. Their expertise will undoubtedly enhance the university's reputation as a leading center for economic research and provide invaluable opportunities for students and researchers alike. The move is anticipated to further solidify Zurich's position as a global center for economic thought and innovation.
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