Pakistan-origin economist Asim Khwaja named faculty director at Harvard school

Economist will assume charge as director CID on July 1

The Harvard Kennedy School has named Pakistan-origin economist Asim Ijaz Khwaja as the faculty director of the school’s Centre for International Development (CID).

Khwaja is also the Sumitomo-Foundation for Advanced Studies on International Development Professor of International Finance and Development at the Harvard Kennedy School, Co-Director of Evidence for Policy Design (EPoD), and co-founder of the Center for Economic Research in Pakistan (CERP).

He will continue to hold those positions and assume charge of as director CID on July 1, 2019.



“Khwaja’s areas of interest include economic development, finance, education, political economy, public finance, and institutions. His research combines extensive fieldwork, rigorous empirical analysis, and microeconomic theory to answer questions that are motivated by and engage with policy,” said a statement issued by the school.

Khwaja succeeds Ricardo Hausmann as director of CID.

“I am thrilled to take up this position and grateful for the opportunity to lead the important work of the center. Under Ricardo’s leadership, the center’s reach has greatly expanded. I hope to continue this expansion by leveraging the amazing talent and opportunities at Harvard to help address some of the most pressing problems we face in the world today,” Khwaja said.

“Asim is distinguished by his energy, excellence, and commitment to research that can help create a positive and lasting impact. I am delighted that he will lead CID,” said Hausmann, who is also a professor of the practice of international development at the Kennedy School.

“I am delighted that Asim has agreed to serve as faculty director of the Center for International Development at Harvard Kennedy School,” said Dean Douglas Elmendorf. “The Center and School will be well served by Asim’s deep knowledge and experience in international development and by his proven leadership of large research initiatives with direct practical implications.”

“The Center for International Development advances the understanding of development challenges and offers viable solutions to problems of global poverty,” said the statement. “It is Harvard's leading research hub focusing on resolving the dilemmas of public policy associated with generating stable, shared, and sustainable prosperity in developing countries.”



Last year, Khawaja was included in the Economic Advisory Council (EAC) constituted by Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government. However, he resigned in protest after the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government decided to withdraw the nomination of renowned economist Dr Atif Mian due to opposition from religious groups including Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).