Martin Ravallion was the Edmond D. Villani Professor of Economics at Georgetown University, where he joined the faculty in 2013 after a distinguished 24-year career at the World Bank. An Australian economist born on March 19, 1952, he received his Ph.D. in economics from the London School of Economics and previously served on the faculty of the Australian National University. His academic journey included teaching positions at prestigious institutions including Oxford University, the London School of Economics, and Princeton University. At the World Bank, he rose to become Director of the Development Research Group and briefly served as Acting Chief Economist. Ravallion's tragic passing on December 24, 2022, marked the end of a remarkable career dedicated to understanding and alleviating global poverty.
Ravallion's pioneering research fundamentally transformed how the world measures and understands poverty, most notably through his 1990 proposal of the "$1 a day" poverty line that became the international standard adopted by the World Bank and United Nations. His rigorous methodological framework enabled meaningful cross-country comparisons of poverty levels, creating a common language for global poverty reduction efforts. This work directly informed the Millennium Development Goals and subsequently the Sustainable Development Goals, including the target of eliminating extreme poverty by 2030. With more than 250 published articles and five influential books, including "The Economics of Poverty: History, Measurement and Policy" (2016), Ravallion established himself as the world's leading authority on poverty measurement. His scientific contributions provided the empirical foundation for countless policy interventions aimed at lifting people out of poverty worldwide.
Beyond his scholarly work, Ravallion profoundly influenced global development policy through advisory roles with numerous governments and international agencies, shaping poverty reduction strategies across continents. His research on poverty dynamics in China and India proved particularly influential in understanding global poverty trends over the past quarter century. Recognized with prestigious honors including the John Kenneth Galbraith Award and the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award, Ravallion's legacy extends through generations of economists he mentored and inspired. The conference "New Directions in the Fight Against Poverty: Honoring Martin Ravallion's Legacy" held at Georgetown University in October 2023 exemplifies the enduring impact of his work. Today, his methodological frameworks continue to guide international efforts to measure and combat poverty, ensuring his contributions remain vital to the ongoing global mission of poverty eradication.
