Dr. Nasir Iqbal
Associate Professor
Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad
For the past fourteen years, I have worked in the areas of trade, governance, development and the design and implementation of social protection programs. I am currently working as Associate Professor at PIDE.
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Education
Duke University NC, USA
(Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Economic) 2023
Areas of interest
- Social Policy
- Migration
- Environmental Economics
- Macroeconomics
Area of Specialization
- Poverty
- Governance
- Social Protection
- Migration
- Environmental Economics
- Macroeconomics
Work Experience
- Duke University NC, USA (Postdoctoral Fellow) Sep 2022 - May 2023
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Boston, USA (Evaluating Social Programs, J-PAL Executive Education) Jun 2018
- German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) Bonn, Germany (Young Professionals Fellow) Jul 2012 - Dec 2012
- Kingston University London, UK (Visiting Fellow) Nov 2012 - Dec 2012
- Kingston University London, UK (Macroeconomic Modelling and Forecasting) Jan 2012 - Jun 2012
Honors & Awards
- Recipient of the Postdoc Scholarship awarded by the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan, 2022
- Won the Policy Pak award for the policy brief titled ”Policy Framework for Vaccinating All”, 2022
- Honorary Executive Director at the Social Protection Resources Center, Islamabad, Pakistan, 2022
- Member of the PIDE Senate, the highest decision-making body at the institute, [Jun 2021-Sep 2022]
- Member of the PIDE Syndicate, the main decision-making body at the institute, since 2019
Publications
Search & Filter
Non-Academic Responsibilities
- Registrar, PIDE, Jun 2021 -Sep 2022 (Responsible for heading all administrative affairs)
- Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, PIDE Jun 2019 -Sep 2021 (Drove faculty strategy to boost research and teaching quality)
- Associate Editor, The Pakistan Development Review (PDR) Jun 2013 -Sep 2014 (Technical Assistant fo PDR - quarterly journal published by the PIDE)
Project Management Experience
- Managed large-scale countrywide survey projects, overseeing all aspects of project planning, implementation, and reporting.
- Responsibilities included budgeting, hiring and managing staff, liaising with stakeholders, ensuring quality control, and ensuring timely delivery of results.
- Successfully completed the projects within budget and on schedule.
- Presented the findings to key stakeholders and policymakers
- Demonstrated strong project management skills and ability to handle complex, multi-faceted projects
Selected Research Grants
- HEC & World Bank: Efficacy of the Poverty Graduation Model and its Impacts on Socio Economic Wellbeing and Governance Mainstreaming of Poor Youth [(PI), Grant: PKR 23 million; Period: 2022-2023]
- IFPRI: What happens when cash transfers suddenly end? Quasi-experimental evidence from Pakistan [(PI), Grant: $160,000; Period: 2022-2023]
- IPA: What happens when cash transfers suddenly end? Quasi-experimental evidence on Intimate Partner Violence”,[(PI), Grant: $29,900; Period: 2022-2023]
- ICIMOD & SANDEE: Tenurial contracts, women participation and reforestation in KP, Pakistan [(PI), Grant: $25,000; Period: 2021-2023]
- CoE-CPEC: CPEC an Engine of Employment: A Situational Analysis and Policy Framework, [(PI), Grant: PKR 350,000; Period: 2017]
- PIDE: Spatial Differences and Socio-Economic Determinants of Health Poverty, [(PI), Grant: PKR 400,000; Period: 2014]
- PIDE: Electricity Demand and Policy Framework in Pakistan, [(PI), Grant: PKR 100,000; Period: 2013]
- SANEI: Pak-India Trade and MFN: Short Run vs. Long Run Impact, [(PI), Grant: $10,000; Period: 2012-2013]
- IFPRI & Planning Commission (GoP): Determinants of the Expansion of Micro and Small Firm and the State of Entrepreneurship in Pakistan [(Co-PI), Grant: $10,000; Period: 2011-2013
Policy Briefs and OPED
-
January 23, 2024
A manifesto for reform -
January 08, 2024
Message from Reformistan -
September 11, 2023
Wapda even not sparing mosques, worship places from paying taxes in bills -
September 07, 2023
Fixing fiscal policy -
July 07, 2023
Charter of power -
June 28, 2023
Path to prosperity: budget priorities -
August 26, 2022
Legalizing street business -
July 06, 2022
Business of the street
Research Projects (In Progress)
[Supported by ICIMOD & SANDEE]
[Completion date: June 2023] The study involves a quasi-experimental welfare analysis of the Billion Tree Project in KP, employing rigorous research methods to assess its impact on local communities and the environment. Additionally, the study aims to explore the factors that explain participation rates in the project.
[Completion date: June 2023] The study involves a quasi-experimental welfare analysis of the Billion Tree Project in KP, employing rigorous research methods to assess its impact on local communities and the environment. Additionally, the study aims to explore the factors that explain participation rates in the project.
[Supported by IFPRI & IPA]
[Completion date: Dec 2023]
This ongoing study uses quasi-experimental methods to explore how households cope when cash transfers stop, focusing on the impact of changes to eligibility criteria on households that no longer qualify for the Benazir Income Support Program. The research aims to provide insights into the consequences of stopping cash transfers on poverty reduction efforts and household welfare.
This ongoing study uses quasi-experimental methods to explore how households cope when cash transfers stop, focusing on the impact of changes to eligibility criteria on households that no longer qualify for the Benazir Income Support Program. The research aims to provide insights into the consequences of stopping cash transfers on poverty reduction efforts and household welfare.
[Supported by HEC & World Bank]
[Completion date: Dec 2023]
The research project aims to evaluate the efficacy of poverty graduation programs in breaking the poverty trap using a quasi-experimental design in Pakistan. Additionally, the study will investigate how social mobilization and community handholding approaches impact the perception and interaction of poor youth beneficiaries with governance
The research project aims to evaluate the efficacy of poverty graduation programs in breaking the poverty trap using a quasi-experimental design in Pakistan. Additionally, the study will investigate how social mobilization and community handholding approaches impact the perception and interaction of poor youth beneficiaries with governance
[Completion date: Dec 2023]
This research aims to develop a new political instability index for Pakistan based on historical strikes data collected from newspapers, and use it to measure the economic costs of political unrest in the country. The index will provide a more accurate assessment of political instability and help identify its key drivers. The main contribution of this study will be a novel tool for measuring political instability and its economic costs in Pakistan.
This research aims to develop a new political instability index for Pakistan based on historical strikes data collected from newspapers, and use it to measure the economic costs of political unrest in the country. The index will provide a more accurate assessment of political instability and help identify its key drivers. The main contribution of this study will be a novel tool for measuring political instability and its economic costs in Pakistan.
[Completion date: June 2024]
For many beneficiaries, BISP represents the main engagement they have had with the state. This research project seek to understand whether this direct engagement with the state in one area (receiving cash transfers) leads the recipients to be more likely to choose to engage with the state in another context (justice), where they have a choice of state vs. non-state actors. The empirical analysis is based on census data, which is unique in nature.
For many beneficiaries, BISP represents the main engagement they have had with the state. This research project seek to understand whether this direct engagement with the state in one area (receiving cash transfers) leads the recipients to be more likely to choose to engage with the state in another context (justice), where they have a choice of state vs. non-state actors. The empirical analysis is based on census data, which is unique in nature.