Translating economic growth into better lives

Lyonel Tanganco, a graduate student in MIT's Master in Data, Economics, and Design of Policy (DEDP) program, works to link data, policy, and community-based interventions to improve living conditions in middle-income countries. His research focuses on the adaptability and scalability of innovative practices that can broaden-based and inclusive economic growth.

The DEDP master's program, jointly run by MIT's Department of Economics and the Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), equips professionals from around the globe with practical skills and theoretical knowledge to tackle complex social issues. J-PAL reduces poverty by ensuring evidence-based policy through randomized impact evaluations and training practitioners to use this evidence.

Tanganco's journey to MIT began with degrees in management science and economics, graduating from Ateneo de Manila University in the Philippines. Previously, he served as the director of the Policy, Research, and Liaison Office in the Philippine Department of Finance, focusing on issues such as the Covid-19 outbreak response, tax policy, and key initiatives' communication support.

As a native of the Philippines, Tanganco understands the country's contradictions: gleaming skylines alongside underserved communities, affluence surrounded by persistent poverty, and world-class hospitals next to children without access to basic healthcare. He aims to help middle-income countries translate economic growth into better lives and human outcomes.

Currently, he's conducting a capstone project in Indonesia, working with local governments to design and implement a randomized evaluation of a tax intervention. By understanding tax administration issues and developing tools to raise revenues in simple, effective, and fair ways, Tanganco hopes to improve service delivery and support in Indonesia and other middle-income countries.