Spotlight on Managing Economist Niranjana Prasad

Managing Economist Niranjana Prasad is the latest addition to the Society Team based in Brussels. With expertise in constructing advance microeconmetrics models for political economy and development, Niranjana is excited to continue to deliver independent evidence-based insights to inform decision making for policymakers around the world.

Tell us about your role at Cambridge Econometrics

As a Managing Economist in the Society Team, my role largely involves understanding the impact of EU and Member State policies on socio-economic outcomes. Another element of my work focuses on developing opportunities for Cambridge Econometrics and leading on the technical aspects of proposals, specifically creating the methodological sections that require econometric modelling.

What are your areas of expertise?

I hold a PhD in applied microeconometrics, and my doctoral thesis focused on assessing the effects of large-scale public policies on individual and household decisions. Additionally, I have expertise in developing sophisticated microeconometric models for political economy and development, and in conducting field surveys and randomized controlled trials.

What has been a career highlight for you?

During my time at the World Bank, I had the opportunity to carry out fieldwork in Tanzania. Our focus was on conducting large-scale surveys to evaluate the impact of a major bus rapid transit corridor on local labour market access and incomes in Dar es Salaam. By tracking thousands of households over time, we were able to derive policy-relevant causal estimates. The outcomes of our study played a crucial role in informing policy decisions by organisations such as the Tanzanian Social Action Fund and the Department of Transport, addressing socio-economic disparities.

What are you most looking forward to about your new role?

I’m excited to have joined a team of highly skilled economists working together to provide policymakers around the world with evidence-based insights to inform decision making. Additionally, I’m thrilled about joining an organisation that champions growth and provides me with daily opportunities to develop my skills and grow.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I enjoy Bachata dancing with my husband and we make it a weekly tradition. I also enjoy cooking Indian food for the French side of my family. As for my latest hobby, I’ve taken up woodworking, although it is still too early to tell if I am any good at it.