
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.
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Latest articles by Siobhan McDonough


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

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

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

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.

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

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


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


Food prices are driving up world hunger.


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


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