Poor Economics: Rethinking poverty & the ways to end it by Abhijit Banerjee & Esther Duflo

This book argues that the usual approaches taken by government to help the poor are often misdirected and thus, limited in their effectievness. Using RCTs, this pair of researchers have arrived as startling discovery of how well intentioned but misdirected policy for poverty alleviation can have no impact on the lives of the poor. On the other hand, the poor are extremely resourceful and efficient when it comes to use of money and resources. Just a light policy boost can change the lives of poor dramatically instead of non specific dole outs.

An insightful book on how the Poor think and help themselves out of poverty, even while governments act like blindmen and the elephant.