Experts

Homi Kharas
Chief Economist and Sector Director, Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region

Homi Kharas, is the Chief Economist of the East Asia and Pacific Region of the World Bank and Director of the region's Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Department. In this capacity, he is responsible for the World Bank's policy advice, and lending in support of that advice, to countries in the region on matters of poverty reduction strategies, trade and competitiveness, public sector debt and fiscal policy, public expenditure management, governance, anti-corruption, and financial sector development.

Mr. Kharas joined the World Bank in 1980 and has worked in the research Department (1981-86), the Latin America and Caribbean region (1993-1997), and the Economic Policy Department (1997-1999). He has been in the East Asia and Pacific Region in 1986-90, 1992-93 and from 1999 to the present. From 1990 to 1991, Mr. Kharas worked as a Senior Partner with Jeffrey D. Sachs and Associates, advising countries in East/Central Europe and the Soviet Union on transition issues.

Mr. Kharas completed his Ph.D. in economics at Harvard University and his undergraduate studies at the University of Cambridge. He has published widely in the areas of external debt and developing countries foreign borrowing and fiscal risks and contingent liabilities.