I conduct research on poverty and natural resource management in Asia and Africa, using methods of micro-econometrics, program evaluation and non-market valuation. I mostly work with primary data that I collect, both large and small samples.

My research has been used by development finance institutions and recipient governments to inform policy, and to adaptively course-correct ongoing investments and programs. My work has been featured in media outlets including BBC, Forbes, NPR, The Economist and The Guardian. 

I am currently a Senior Economist at The World Bank.

I am an Associate Editor for Agricultural Economics, World Development, and Journal of Water Economics

I maintain academic affiliations (pro bono). I am an adjunct professor at Duke University, the University of Waterloo, and Texas A & M University. I am a Global Fellow at the Daugherty Water for Food Institute at the University of Nebraska. 

I advise doctoral students studying in the global north, and volunteer my time to support regional research mentoring networks in the global south.  I am a mentor for the South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE); and for the mentoring programs run by the International Committee for Women in Agricultural Economics (International Association for Agricultural Economists).

Between 2011-2021, I was affiliated with the CGIAR.

I received a PhD in Environment and Development Economics from Duke University in 2011.

I can be reached at sbalasubramanya[at]worldbank[dot]org.