PDRI-DevLab Research Presented at Stanford’s Science of International Migration Seminar

Prof. Guy Grossman, Co-Director of the Penn Development Research Initiative (PDRI-DevLab) and David M. Knott Professor of Global Politics at the University of Pennsylvania, was invited to present his latest research at the Science of International Migration Seminar (SIMS), hosted by Stanford University and ETH Zurich’s Immigration Policy Lab.

In his February 12, 2026 presentation, titled “Aid cuts for refugees reduce welfare without increasing self-reliance,” Grossman shared new findings from ongoing joint work with Yang-Yang Zhou (Dartmouth College), Shelby Carvalho (Stanford University), and Iman Dahr (PDRI-DevLab). The research examines the consequences of humanitarian aid reductions for refugee populations and provides evidence that aid cuts can significantly reduce welfare without producing corresponding increases in economic self-reliance.

The SIMS seminar series brings together leading scholars and practitioners from around the world to share rigorous, policy-relevant research on international migration. Grossman’s presentation contributed to ongoing global discussions about the design and effectiveness of humanitarian assistance policies in contexts of protracted displacement.

A recording of the seminar is available here: https://youtu.be/eXxgBy6HZFc

This work is part of PDRI-DevLab’s broader research agenda on forced displacement, humanitarian policy, and the economic and social integration of displaced populations.