You’ve probably seen his face pop up while scrolling through your local news feed or caught a snippet of him during a commercial break on ABC 7 News. Edward "Ted" Miguel isn't your typical TV personality. He isn't a meteorologist tracking a cold front, and he isn't a reporter chasing sirens in a van.
He’s a professor.
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Specifically, he is the Distinguished Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley.
Lately, the connection between Ted Miguel and ABC 7 has become a bit of a local phenomenon in the Bay Area. When news stations need someone to make sense of global poverty, the impact of climate change on migration, or why giving people cash—literally just handing it out—actually works, they call Ted.
Honestly, the way he breaks down complex global issues into something your average person can digest over coffee is why he’s become a go-to expert for the network. It’s not just academic fluff. We’re talking about real-world data that changes how we think about the world.
The Real Story Behind Ted Miguel and ABC 7
So, what is the actual deal with Ted Miguel ABC 7?
Basically, it comes down to his role as the faculty co-director of the Center for Effective Global Action (CEGA). ABC 7, like many major news outlets, has been leaning heavily into "solutions-based" journalism. Instead of just reporting that things are bad, they want to know what’s working.
Miguel recently appeared in segments discussing a massive study in Kenya. The results were pretty wild: giving unconditional cash transfers to low-income families cut infant mortality by nearly 50%.
When a stat like that hits the wires, newsrooms notice.
The relationship isn't a formal employment one. He’s not "Ted Miguel, ABC 7 Correspondent." He is the expert they bring in to provide the "why" behind the headlines. If you saw him on the 101-second series or a featured news segment, it’s usually because his research just dropped a bombshell that challenges the old ways of doing foreign aid.
Why Economists are the New News Stars
It’s kinda weird to think about an economics professor being a "news star," right? Usually, that’s reserved for people with perfect hair and a dramatic "reporting live" voice. But the world is getting complicated.
Between 2024 and 2026, we've seen a massive shift in how the public consumes data. People are tired of opinions. They want evidence.
Ted Miguel brings evidence in spades.
- Research Transparency: He’s a huge advocate for "open science."
- Climate & Conflict: He’s pioneered work showing how rising temperatures actually lead to more violence in certain regions.
- Direct Aid: His work with NGOs like GiveDirectly has basically turned the charity world on its head.
When ABC 7 interviews him, they aren't just getting a quote. They’re getting decades of field work from places like Sierra Leone, Tanzania, and India.
The Kenya Study That Caught Everyone's Attention
If you're wondering why his name is trending alongside the station call sign right now, look no further than the "General Equilibrium Effects of Cash Transfers" research.
It sounds boring. It's actually fascinating.
Essentially, Miguel and his team dropped about $10 million into rural Kenya. They didn't tell people how to spend it. They didn't set up complicated rules. They just gave it away. Critics thought it would cause inflation or that people would waste it.
The opposite happened.
Local businesses thrived. The "slack" in the economy—basically the unused potential of small firms—got sucked up. This is the kind of story that kills on local news because it feels like a miracle, even though it’s just math. ABC 7’s coverage of these findings helped bridge the gap between "dense academic paper" and "information people can actually use."
Transparency: The BITSS Connection
One thing most people don't know about Ted is that he’s the co-founder of the Berkeley Initiative for Transparency in the Social Sciences (BITSS).
Why does this matter for a news audience?
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Because we live in an era of fake news and "junk science." Miguel has spent years fighting for researchers to publish their failures as well as their successes. He wants everything out in the open.
When he goes on ABC 7 to talk about U.S. tariffs or global economic recovery post-COVID, he’s coming from a place of radical transparency. He isn't just cherry-picking stats to fit a narrative.
What You Can Learn from the Ted Miguel Approach
You don't need a PhD from Harvard like Ted to apply his logic to your own life. His work is basically a masterclass in checking your assumptions.
- Look for the "Slack": Just like those Kenyan firms that could produce more if they had more customers, look for where your own resources are sitting idle.
- Demand Data: Next time you see a flashy headline on ABC 7 or anywhere else, ask: "Where is the RCT (Randomized Controlled Trial)?"
- Support Direct Action: The research is clear—often, the best way to help someone is to give them the agency to help themselves.
Actionable Steps for Following the Research
If you’re interested in the kind of work Ted Miguel discusses on air, you don't have to wait for the next 6:00 PM broadcast.
First, check out the CEGA website. They host regular webinars that are open to the public. If you’re a student or a data nerd, look into the BITSS tools for research transparency. They offer free resources on how to spot biased data.
Also, keep an eye on his book, Economic Gangsters. It’s been out a while, but it’s still one of the best looks at how corruption and violence actually function in the real world.
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The takeaway from the "Ted Miguel ABC 7" phenomenon is simple. Expertise matters. In a world of 280-character hot takes, having a guy from Berkeley spend a few minutes explaining the actual data is a breath of fresh air.
Stop looking for the easy answer and start looking at the evidence. Follow the work being done at Berkeley’s Center for Effective Global Action to see which global health initiatives are actually moving the needle on child survival. If you want to support effective aid, look into organizations like GiveDirectly that utilize the "no-strings-attached" cash transfer model Miguel has spent his career validating.