Economist

World Bank


I am a development economist with expertise in environmental and agricultural economics. Currently, I am working as an Economist as part of the Young Professionals Program in the Agricultural and Food Global Practice’s global unit at the World Bank. Here, I focus on re-purposing agricultural subsidies and promoting the use of green technologies in developing countries. I also support operations on private sector development in the Middle East and Central Asia regions of the International Finance Corporation. My prior experience includes serving as a Robert S. McNamara Fellow and a consultant within the Development Research Group and the Africa Chief Economist’s Office at the World Bank, as well as working as a Research Associate on the Energy and Environment team at J-PAL South Asia.

My research lies at the intersection of development, environmental sustainability, and agriculture, with a focus on the impacts of climate change and environmental shocks on outcomes such as out-migration, learning, and voting behavior. I am also investigating groundwater irrigation, exploring its potential for expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa and policies for its conservation in India. I employ a wide range of empirical strategies, including quasi-experimental methods and selection models, utilizing household surveys, administrative datasets, and remote sensing technology.

I hold a PhD in Economics from Georgetown University, an MA in Economics from Boston University and Georgetown University, and a BA (Hons) in Economics from Lady Shri Ram College.


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Contact: bsrivastava@worldbank.org