Kunal Sen

Dr. Kunal Sen is a distinguished development economist serving as Director of the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) since 2019 while holding a professorship at the Global Development Institute, University of Manchester. With over three decades of experience, his research spans political economy, international finance, poverty dynamics, and informal sector economics, with particular focus on India, East Asia, and sub-Saharan Africa. His scholarly contributions include eight authored books, five edited volumes, and more than 90 peer-reviewed journal articles, with notable works such as "The Political Economy of India's Growth Episodes" (2016) and "Deals and Development: The Political Dynamics of Growth Episodes" (2018). His expertise has been recognized with prestigious awards including the Sanjaya Lall Prize (2006) and Dudley Seers Prize (2003). Beyond academia, he has served in advisory roles with national governments and international organizations including the UK's Department for International Development, Asian Development Bank, and International Development Research Centre. His research examines inclusive growth, female labor force participation, social exclusion, and the informal sector in developing economies, making him a leading voice in development economics and policy.