Saugato Datta

Saugato Datta is an applied economist with 15 years of experience in international development and applied behavioral economics. He specializes in the nuanced application of behavioral insights to program and policy design in low- and middle-income countries in Asia and Africa, as well as the evaluation of these and other interventions using randomized control trials and other experimental and quasi-experimental methods.  He works with multilateral institutions, governments, and NGOs to identify and analyze challenges limiting the impact of development programs, and subsequently to design and test solutions to them. 

Over the past decade, he has led the international development portfolio at ideas42, a leading applied behavioral science firm, where he has overseen over 50 projects applying behavioral insights to issues in global health, social protection, sustainability, governance, labor market programs, and education, including over 20 randomized control trials. His research has been published in leading academic and policy journals. He has also written extensively on international development and the application of behavioral economics to policy problems in development in the popular press and is regularly invited to speak on these topics at policy fora and panels at the World Bank, the United Nations, and other bilateral and multilateral institutions. 

Corporate Experience

• Co-Founder and Principal, Venn Advisors, USA, 2023 – Present

• Senior Advisor, Global Development, ideas42, USA, 2023 – Present

• Managing Director, ideas42, USA, 2014 – 2023

• Vice-President, ideas42, USA, 2011 – 2014

• Economics Correspondent, The Economist, UK, 2008 – 2011

• Extended Term Consultant, World Bank, USA, 2007 – 2008

Academic Experience

• Visiting Professor, Young India Fellowship, Ashoka University, India, 2023 – Present

• Professor of the Practice, Economics Department, Tufts University, USA, 2022 – Present

Academic Background

• Ph.D. Economics, MIT, USA, 2007

• MPhil in Economics, Cambridge University, UK, 2001

• BA (Hons) in Economics, Cambridge University, UK, 2000

• BA (Hons) in Economics, University of Delhi, India, 1998