On October 17, 2025, the development economics community lost a leading figure in the field—Dr. Elisabeth (Betty) Sadoulet.
Betty will be remembered for her extensive contributions to the study of poverty, rural development, and agricultural policy. Over her distinguished career, including tenure at the University of California, Berkeley, Betty’s research and teaching influenced generations of economists and development practitioners around the world. Many of us at IFPRI have been taught or mentored by her and have drawn on her work in our own research.
We extend our sincere condolences to her husband, Alain de Janvry, to their family, and to many friends, colleagues, and students of Betty.
Read a tribute to Dr. Sadoulet from the University of California, Berkeley’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.