EGC Celebrates the Class of 2025, their achievements and future plans

Timothy Hersey has worked at the intersection of development economics, religion, and migration. He was awarded the 2023 Raymond Powell Teaching Prize for outstanding graduate teaching, and will join the University of Chicago in a teaching position.

Hersey’s research focuses on the effects of religion and how it helps migrants solve risk-sharing problems.

"I am deeply grateful for my time here at Yale. It has been such a privilege to be surrounded by professors and students who are broadly intellectually curious and also thinking deeply about the processes of development and the biggest problems facing our world today. I have learnt a lot from the unique approaches and interests of the development economics community here. The resources and support I have received at Yale have been amazing, allowing me to travel and research in Ghana, and to grow my research in directions I never would have imagined." - Tim Hersey

"Tim Hersey really distinguished himself as a graduate student instructor during his time at Yale. He was cited as a favorite instructors by many Yale undergraduate students who were lucky enough to have him for a class. Tim chose a teaching-oriented position at the University of Chicago, which is a perfect fit because many more talented undergraduates will benefit from his stellar teaching skills. And the strong development economics research environment at Chicago will allow him to continue pursuing his research agenda on institutions and development in Ghana." - Mushfiq Mobarak, Jerome Kasoff '54 Professor of Management and Economics

Jack Liang has focused on trade, spatial, and macro economics. After graduation, he will join Temple University as an Assistant Professor. Liang received the Arvid Anderson Prize Fellowship in Economics in 2023.

I have been incredibly fortunate to have been at Yale these past eight years: two as a research assistant, and six as a PhD student. The support of my classmates, advisors, and the EGC has been pivotal in helping me develop as a researcher and as an academic. I am deeply grateful to have grown within such a generous and stimulating academic environment. - Jack Liang

“In his work, Jack tackles an old and fundamental question: are there important frictions in knowledge transmission? And if so, what are the economic implications? His approach is novel, both in its empirical breadth and in its theoretical rigor. It might best be illustrated by an example: suppose firm in Boston hires some researchers to develop a new production technology. Is the firm able to then use this technology equally efficiency in its production plants in New Haven and San Diego? Using new firm-level data, Jack shows that the answer is 'no'. In particular, the New Haven plant, given its proximity to Boston, benefits much more than the plant in San Diego. He also shows that such geographic frictions in knowledge transmission have important implications for spatial inequality and the transmission of local productivity shocks. I believe that Jack’s work breaks new ground in the literature and marks an important contribution to the literature.” - Michael Peters, Associate Professor of Economics

Matthew Schwartzman is a macroeconomist who studies economic growth and development. After graduation, he will join the Department of Economics at the University of Michigan as an Assistant Professor.

"I’m grateful that my time at Yale overlapped with incredible people. Being a PhD student here means you benefit from challenging and fun conversations with advisors, other faculty, staff, and especially fellow students every single day. I’ll always carry a fondness for the people I’ve been lucky to interact with here and for the EGC, including our little office in the basement. Both the EGC and the Sylff foundation are great resources for students, and I want to thank them for their support." - Matthew Shwartzman

"Matt’s job market paper is an ambitious and deeply original exploration of Brazil’s transition from street markets to shopping malls. He tells the story of how informal retail work gave way to formal wage employment—and how this transformation powered growth and improved people's welfare. At the heart of the paper is a structural model that captures the forces behind this shift, including labor market frictions and non-homothetic demand, and draws on both micro and macro data with exceptional skill. The model’s predictions are validated using quasi-experimental variation from Brazil’s trade liberalization, and the results are striking: over 40% of productivity growth in modern services can be attributed to reduced misallocation through formalization. This is not just an impressive technical achievement—it’s a rich, policy-relevant, and timely contribution to our understanding of development. I expect this work to make a significant impact." – Fabrizio Zilibotti, Tuntex Professor of International and Development Economics

"Matthew's paper offers an answer to a central question in growth and development: why are developing countries characterized by so many "mom-and-pop" retail shops? His paper has a bit of everything: some genuinely surprising empirical results, a new model that blends together modern ideas of structural change with older theories of "big push" development policy, and quantitative results that disentangle the various economic forces at play. I've learned a ton from working with Matthew over the past few years, and I'm looking forward to more of the same as a colleague in the profession." - Kevin Donovan, Assistant Professor of Economics

“Matt's work breaks new ground for our understanding of the growth process. His claim is provocative, to say the least. He argues that mundane consumer services such as retail, hospitality, or transportation, are important drivers of productivity growth in developing countries. Why are these activities, which are seldom heralded as harbingers of economic development, important? Matt shows that they play a key role for growth because they transform in a fundamental way: traditional, informal forms of production such as street vendors and self-employed shopkeepers give way to formal jobs in supermarkets, restaurants, and hotels. This reallocation, in turn, increases aggregate productivity and causes economic development. Matt’s work definitely changed my thinking about the growth process … and I hope that he will continue to do so in the years to come.” - Michael Peters, Associate Professor of Economics

Lindsey Uniat has focused on Macroeconomics and Labor Economics during her time at Yale. She will join the Research Department at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco in summer 2025.

"I am grateful to have spent the past six years in Yale’s rigorous and supportive research community, learning from exceptional professors who have been so generous with their time and attention. Looking ahead, I’m excited to apply the skills I’ve developed in economic modeling and data analysis to new research projects and challenges." - Lindsey Uniat

"Lindsey’s job market paper brings a fresh and compelling perspective to one of the most debated labor market trends of recent decades: the decline of routine white-collar jobs in the U.S. since the 1970s. She links this shift to the Quiet Revolution in women’s labor force participation—driven by changing norms, falling fertility, and declining discrimination. Her structural model, which weaves together automation, gender dynamics, and intra-household decisions, is both theoretically rich and empirically grounded. Using U.S. data, she shows that the Quiet Revolution and reduced discrimination account for over a third of the rise in non-routine employment, alongside significant productivity gains. Lindsey’s paper stands out for its creativity, depth, and relevance. It opens up important new questions at the intersection of macroeconomics, gender, and technological change—and deserves serious attention." – Fabrizio Zilibotti, Tuntex Professor of International and Development Economics

“Lindsey’s thesis is one of these projects where you immediately know that a student came up with a great idea when you hear about it first. Lindsey studies the macroeconomic implications of the “Quiet Revolution”. This term, coined by Claudia Goldin, refers to a qualitative change in female labor supply that began in the early 1970s, when women’s labor supply switched from being intermittent (due to childbearing) to a being continuous. In her paper, she shows that this change had dramatic consequences for our understanding of the US labor market in the past 50 years. It is paper that will surely inspire lots of follow-up work and it was a true honor (and joy!) to be part her thought process.” - Michael Peters, Associate Professor of Economics

"By analyzing the effects of the Quiet Revolution on occupational sorting and aggregate efficiency, Lindsey draws attention to a powerful labor supply change that so far has received little attention by macroeconomists. Her work complements the myriad of studies that focus on either how technological change or a reduction in gender discrimination reshaped the US labor market. Lindsey’s paper significantly advances our understanding of key trends that have shaped the American labor market during the last decades." - Ilse Lindenlaub, Associate Professor of Economics

This year’s graduates of the International and Development Economics Master’s program will go on to a variety of positions in academia, finance, and policy. We highlight just a few:

Jennifer Agbo will work in the policy implementation and research field before pursuing a PhD.

"IDE has made me better in ways I never anticipated. Going through the rigorous program taught me vulnerability—how to accept that there’s so much to learn, and that staying curious is key. One thing I really enjoyed about the IDE program was the flexibility to choose electives aligned with my interests. This allowed me to explore energy policy, finance, and climate change. A personal highlight was participating in STEM Hill Day, organized by the Yale Jackson School, where a few other Yale students and I visited Capitol Hill in Washington, DC to discuss energy policy with Congress members and their staffers. As the only economics student on the team, I leaned heavily on the knowledge I gained in IDE to propose strategies and influence our group’s policy recommendations." - Jennifer Agbo

Ekta Mishra will join the International Growth Centre's Country Team in Uganda as a Country Economist.

"My time in the Yale IDE program has been a year of profound transformation, one where my nascent questions have been welcomed, dignified, and sharpened by the brightest minds in the department. In seminar rooms and over coffee, I found a rare community of thinkers unafraid to challenge assumptions and chase rigorous, human-centred answers. I leave Yale with deeper convictions, humbler questions, and an enduring gratitude for the friendships and ideas that will travel with me!" - Ekta Mishra

Jaimin Shah will join OC&C Strategy Consultants as an Associate Consultant in their Boston office.

"The IDE program has deepened my understanding of Development Economics from a multitude of perspectives, particularly through the strong interdisciplinary lens it fosters. The insights and analytical tools I gained, both from the core classes and the wide range of electives, will continue to shape my approach throughout my career." - Jaimin Shah

Cynthia Wang will join Oliver Wyman as an analyst.

"I'm grateful to all of my professors and my amazing cohorts. Everyone I met at Yale IDE is inspiring and passionate, and I'm truly glad that development economics brought us together. During the program, I explored diverse topics in economics, engaged with cutting-edge research, and sharpened skills that are immensely valuable for my future work." - Cynthia Wang

Yongjie Xiong will join the Yale Tobin Center as a postgraduate associate before pursuing a PhD.

"I cannot imagine there would be another program which could foster such a warm sense of community and genuine friendship between students and professors. Every day here feels liberating. I’m also amazed that so many alumni have gone on to extraordinary careers at the World Bank, the IMF, and leading universities, yet still make time to reconnect with us. Equally remarkable is Professor Michael Boozer. In many ways, it can be easier to teach advanced, complex ideas; However, explaining foundational concepts in a truly profound way is far more challenging, and Professor Boozer excels at it." - Yongjie Xiong

Carmen Arbaizar Mazas supported Economic Growth Center affiliates working within the scope of the Gender and Growth Gaps Project. Following graduation, she will begin a PhD in Economics at the London School of Economics.

“Carmen brought energy, care, and a consistently cheerful attitude to our team studying the evolution of female labor force participation in India. Her enthusiasm was infectious, and her contributions were always thoughtful and precise. As she begins her PhD at the LSE—my own alma mater—I wish her every success in her research career being confident she will thrive in this next chapter.” - Fabrizio Zillibotti, Tuntex Professor of International and Development Economics

George Taylor has worked under the Inclusion Economics initiative during his postgraduate fellowship where his primary role was to support the evaluation and implementation of the Google Flood Alerts early warning system intervention in Bihar, India. After graduation, he will pursue PhD at the University of California.

“George is a careful and principled scholar, and I have enjoyed our many conversations on the complexities of measuring floods. He is always eager to learn new things, whether in the flooded plains of Bihar or the green forests of Meghalaya. I wish him the best in his future endeavors, and look forward to following his future contributions to the field of development economics.” - Jenna Allard, Yale Inclusion Economics Associate Director of Research and Policy

“George’s earnestness and diligence made him indispensable—he consistently went above and beyond, diving deep into challenging analyses with genuine enthusiasm. Berkeley is lucky to have him, and I'm excited to see all he'll accomplish in graduate school.” - Maulik Jagnani, Assistant Professor at the Fletcher School, Department of Economics at Tufts University

Akash Uppal supported research initiatives at Inclusion Economics, working on issues of discrimination, financial inclusion, and economic development. Following graduation, he will begin a PhD in Economics at the London School of Economics.

“It has been great to have Akash on our team at Yale these past two years. He has contributed a deep curiosity to our teams' research projects — always willing to jump into new literature, new analyses, and ways to capture novel indicators. I greatly value this enthusiasm for learning, and the ways in which it helps us to expand the insights to be generated on our studies. I look forward to seeing where his curiosity takes his research in his next chapter!” - Erik Jorgensen, Yale Inclusion Economics Gender and Digital Lead

Peter Zhang graduates with a double major degree in Ethics, Politics, & Economics and Statistics & Data Science. He will pursue fellowship opportunities before attending Harvard Law School in the class of 2030.

“Peter joined EGC as a summer intern after his sophomore year and we joked how we were his add-on internship to his work as a Carillonneur. His work with us over the years has created a wonderful portfolio of research summaries and highlights, and we have benefited greatly from Peter’s sharp thinking, empathetic approach, and positive, collaborative, disciplined attitude to teamwork. We are so proud of Peter’s accomplishments and look forward to all that he will achieve ahead!” - Aishwarya Lakshmi Ratan, Deputy Director, Yale Economic Growth Center

“Peter joined us in the summer of 2023 and accomplished an amazing amount over the summer—including building a faculty member’s website—all while practicing and performing with the Yale Carillon. We refused to let him go, and he continued with us over the next two academic years, writing news pieces, research summaries, and faculty profiles; drafting sections of two Annual Reports; supporting long conferences and events; and taking on dozens of other tasks—always with a smile and a can-do attitude. He became part of the team, and we’ll miss him a lot. Harvard Law will be lucky to have him in two years’ time, and I’m excited to see what adventures he gets up to in the meantime.” - Vestal McIntyre, former EGC Communications Director

Iris Zhao graduates with a double major degree in economics and philosophy with a concentration in psychology. She will join Altman Solon as an Analyst following graduation.

“It was such a pleasure working with Iris during the 2024 and 2025 academic years. She’s a talented writer with a sharp mind, quiet confidence, and a consistently thoughtful approach to everything she takes on. Whether she was helping edit a book chapter, summarizing complex research, or supporting faculty projects independently, she brought focus and care to her work. It was a luxury to be able to assign her tasks that she could run with—often unsupervised and always done well. I’ll miss her adventurous, globe-trotting energy and kind spirit. I know she’ll accomplish great things, and I can’t wait to follow along.” - Vestal McIntyre, former EGC Communications Director

Devina Aggarwal graduates with a major in Economics with a certificate in Education Studies. Her research interests lie in exploring the intersection between economic development and inclusive policy-making, particularly in the context of India.

Rome Thorstenson graduates with majors in Computer Science & Economics and Math & Philosophy. He contributed to Dr. Rohini Pande’s research by developing machine learning models for predicting deforestation in Meghalaya, India.

Brian Wong graduates with majors in Computer Sciences and Economics. He worked on an Inclusion Economics initiative to perform an experimental evaluation of a flood forecasting tool in Bihar, India

Maya Aidlin Perlman graduates with a double major in Economics and Global Affairs. As a Tobin Fellow at the Economic Growth Center, she supported Dr. Rohini Pande’s research on the economics of gender norms. 

Will Aarons supported Professor Rohini Pande’s research on gender-sensitive policy and economic inclusion at Yale Inclusion Economics under the Digital Inclusion portfolio from 2023-2024.

Nastaran Moghimi graduates with a degree in Economics.