Homi Kharas

Homi Kharas is a distinguished British economist and senior fellow at the Brookings Institution's Center for Sustainable Development, where he has made significant contributions to understanding global development and poverty reduction. After earning his PhD in Economics from Harvard University and BA from Cambridge University, he spent 26 years at the World Bank, serving as Chief Economist for the East Asia and Pacific region. His groundbreaking work includes developing the concept of 'middle income traps' and leading the UN High-Level Panel's post-2015 development agenda, which shaped the Sustainable Development Goals. As co-founder of World Data Lab and a pioneering researcher on the global middle class, he has authored numerous influential books on development economics and poverty reduction. His recent work focuses on the unprecedented growth of the global middle class, which he explores in his 2023 book "The Rise of the Global Middle Class." Currently, he serves on several prestigious boards and advisory groups, including the Independent High-Level Expert Group on Climate Finance and the MCC External Advisory Council, while continuing his research on development finance, multilateral development banks, and global economic trends.