I am an applied microeconomist studying the behavioral foundations of markets and state capacity. My research employs experimental and quasi-experimental methods to investigate how to enhance state capacity and market efficiency, with a particular focus on tax policy, regulatory design, and economic inclusion for marginalized groups.
At its core, my work aims to understand why markets and states often fail to reach their full potential — and how institutional, technological, and behavioral interventions can help them work more effectively together. This agenda connects questions of state capacity and market performance with broader themes of inclusion, accountability, and institutional design.
I am currently an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) and have served as a Visiting Assistant Professor at Iowa State University. I am also an Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) invited researcher and an approved Principal Investigator for the Weiss Fund for Research in Development Economics.
My research has been published in the Journal of Development Economics and the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, and has been supported by grants from the IGC, PEDL, J-PAL, the World Bank, and the Russell Sage Foundation.