Martin Ravallion: Measuring Poverty, Shaping Policy

This special issue celebrates the remarkable contributions of Martin Ravallion to the field of development economics, and especially his lasting impact on the Development Research Group at the World Bank. The papers featured here were selected from an open call for a conference held in Martin’s honor, co-hosted by Georgetown University and the World Bank, as well as from a symposium organized by Monash University and the Bangladesh Institute for Development Studies. Martin was one of the most influential development economists of his generation. Over more than four decades, he transformed the way poverty is measured, understood, and addressed. His research brought together methodological rigor, deep empirical insight, and a profound moral commitment to improving the lives of the world’s poorest people. His work shaped academic debates, informed global policy, and laid the empirical foundations for poverty-reduction strategies across the globe.