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Siobhan McDonough

Siobhan McDonough

Fellow, Future Perfect

Siobhan Siu Bai McDonough is a Future Perfect fellow at Vox, where she writes about global development and agriculture. She has reported on foreign aid effectiveness, world hunger, and cash transfers.

Before joining Vox, she was based in Delhi and Lusaka, Zambia, working in economics research and communications with IDinsight, a global development data analytics and advisory organization. She can be reached at siobhan.mcdonough@vox.com and on Twitter at @SioBhanBhan.

Ethics Statement

Future Perfect coverage may include stories about organizations that writers have made personal donations to. This does not in any way affect the editorial independence of our coverage, and this information will be disclosed clearly when relevant.

Future Perfect is supported in part by grants from foundations and individual donors. Future Perfect prizes its editorial independence, and all editorial decisions are made separately from fundraising and commercial considerations. See Vox’s ethics and guidelines for more.

Latest articles by Siobhan McDonough

Why are American lives getting shorter?Why are American lives getting shorter?
Future Perfect

US life expectancy got worse during Covid-19, and then kept getting worse.

By Siobhan McDonough
Ahmed Mushfiq Mobarak wants to find out what makes antipoverty programs effective
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

The Yale economist has spent his career seeking out what’s most effective in helping the poor.

By Siobhan McDonough
Kanika Bahl is finding the unicorns of international development
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

The CEO of Evidence Action is disrupting international development by finding low-cost solutions to widespread problems.

By Siobhan McDonough
Development programs don’t always work. Rachel Glennerster figures out how and why.
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

Millions rely on foreign aid and antipoverty programs. Economist Rachel Glennerster measures their impact and ensures that if they don’t work now, they will later.

By Siobhan McDonough
Economics is more than just theory for Seema Jayachandran — it’s a way to help people
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

Figuring out what practical economic policies could make life better for women.

By Siobhan McDonough
Zeynep Tufekci has been consistently ahead of the curve on Covid-19
The 2022 Future Perfect 50

The columnist and academic offered smart insights and actionable advice during the pandemic.

By Siobhan McDonough
American trains aren’t great — but you should still take them anywayAmerican trains aren’t great — but you should still take them anyway
How to travel now

Long-distance trains in the US are very slow, but it’s much more environmentally friendly and rewarding.

By Siobhan McDonough
Yet another inflation problemYet another inflation problem
Future Perfect

Food prices are driving up world hunger.

By Siobhan McDonough
The US spends billions on foreign aid. But it doesn’t know how much good our money is doing.The US spends billions on foreign aid. But it doesn’t know how much good our money is doing.
Future Perfect

USAID’s funding largely leaves out the people it’s supposed to work for.

By Siobhan McDonough
During Covid, most governments just gave people moneyDuring Covid, most governments just gave people money
Future Perfect

The largest cash transfer scale-up ever mirrors global inequalities.

By Siobhan McDonough