This is all the more puzzling because their work contributed to significant and practical solutions against poverty (http://www.ted.com/talks/esther_duflo_socia

This is all the more puzzling because their work contributed to significant and practical solutions against poverty (http://www.ted.com/talks/esther_duflo_social_experiments_to_fight_poverty.html http://www.ted.com/talks/esther_duflo_social_experiments_to_...). There is nothing condescendant in their approach (randomized experiments). On the contrary, it goes against the usual "big plan, big project" idea so common in aid policies. There are arguments against the approach (Chris Blattman sometimes write on his blog about them). But in any case, they advanced the debate.