Nobel Laureates Esther Duflo, Abhijit Banerjee To Leave US: Trump Decisions Behind The Move?

Esther Duflo and Abhijit Banerjee are set to begin a new journey, and leave the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to join the University of Zurich (UZH) in July 2026. The couple, globally known for their work in development economics, will become part of UZH’s Faculty of Business, Economics and Informatics.

Banerjee and Duflo shared the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences with Michael Kremer for their “experimental approach to alleviating global poverty.” Their research has transformed how governments and organisations design policies to fight poverty, improve health, and expand education access in developing nations.

Why Are They Moving To Zurich?

The couple will establish a new centre for development economics at the University of

Zurich with the objectives of enhancing research into poverty reduction, education, and public policy. Lemann Foundation donated CHF 26 million to assist the endeavour, which will also result in the establishment of the Lemann Centre for Development, Education, and Public Policy in UZH’s Department of Economics.

Though they did not say why they are departing, news reports indicate that their departure occurs as many scientists in the United States are concerned about funding reductions and increasing restrictions on academic freedom. Experts maintain that their departure has raised new alarm about “brain drain,” as more top scholars consider other nations with better support for research and innovation.

About Esther Duflo

Esther Duflo is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she holds the Abdul Latif Jameel Professorship in Development Economics and Poverty Alleviation. Alongside her work at MIT, she leads the Poverty and Public Policy Department at the Collège de France and serves as President of the Paris School of Economics.

Recognised as one of the most influential economists of her generation, Duflo has dedicated her career to studying how policies can make real improvements in the lives of the poor. Her research has helped shape global thinking on poverty, education, and social welfare. She is also a fellow of several leading academic institutions, including the Econometric Society, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences.