Mohamed Saleh

Mohamed Saleh

Associate Professor, London School of Economics (LSE)

Professor Saleh is an Associate Professor of Economic History at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). He is also Research Affiliate in Economic History at the Centre for Economic Policy Research (CEPR), Long-Term Visitor at the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse (IAST), Faculty Fellow at Association for Analytic Learning about Islam and Muslim Societies (AALIMS), and Research Fellow at the Economic Research Forum (ERF). Prior to joining the LSE in September 2022, Professor Saleh was at the Toulouse School of Economics and the Institute for Advanced Study in Toulouse, University of Toulouse Capitole, France, first as a Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Economics from September 2012 to December 2018, and then as a Professor of Economics from January 2019 to August 2022 (currently, on leave). Professor Saleh obtained his PhD in Economics in May 2012, and MA in Economics in 2006, both from the University of Southern California (USC), and his BSc in Economics from Cairo University, Egypt, in June 2003. Professor Saleh's primary fields of interest lie at the intersection of Economic History, Political Economy, and Development Economics. His research is focused on the Economic History of the Middle East and North Africa, where he employs modern microeconometric methods, historical evidence, and novel primary (archival) and secondary (published) microdata sources to address long-standing questions in the field. He has been interested in two main themes of research. The first theme is the Economic History of Identity, and in particular how fiscal policy impacted the formation of religious groups, their socioeconomic outcomes, and their narratives in the Middle East and North Africa, via tax-induced conversions. The second theme is Historical Political Economy, and in particular, the coercion of labor, land inequality, and the historical roots of political authoritarianism in the region. Professor Saleh's research has been published in leading Economics and Economic History journals, such as Econometrica, Journal of Economic History, Explorations in Economic History, Economic History Review, and Journal of Development Economics. He was awarded the Economic History Association’s Arthur H. Cole Prize for the best Journal of Economic History article of the year in 2017–2018.

Areas of Interest:

  • Economic History
  • Development Economics
  • Political Economy

Education:

  • Ph.D. Economics, University of Southern California, 2012
  • M.A. Economics, University of Southern California, 2006
  • Preliminary Year of M.Sc. in Economics, Cairo University, 2004
  • B.Sc. Economics, Excellent with Honors, Cairo University, 2003

Experience:

  • Associate Professor, Department of Economic History, London School of Economics and Political Science, September 2022-Present.
  • Professor of Economics, Toulouse School of Economics, University of Toulouse Capitole, France, January 2019-August 2022, On Leave (September 2022-Present).
  • Tenure-Track Assistant Professor of Economics, Toulouse School of Economics, University of Toulouse Capitole, France, September 2012-December 2018.
  • Visiting Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, Stanford University, 2017-2018.

Latest of Publications:

  • Saleh, M. and J. Tirole (2021). “Taxing Identity: Theory and Evidence from Early Islam.” Econometrica 89 (4): 1881–1919.
  • Saleh, M. (2018). “On the Road to Heaven: Taxation, Conversions, and the Coptic-Muslim Socioeconomic Gap inMedieval Egypt.” Journal of Economic History 78 (2): 394–434. Awarded the Economic History Association’s Arthur H. Cole Prize for the best Journal of Economic History article of the year.
  • Assaad, R. and M. Saleh (2018). “Does Improved Local Supply of Schooling Enhance Intergenerational Mobility in Education? Evidence from Jordan.” World Bank Economic Review 32 (3): 633–655.
Impact of Syrian Refugees in Jordan on Education Outcomes for Jordanian Youth

Areas of Interest: Economic History Development Economics Political Economy Education: Ph.D. Economics, University of Southern California, 2012 M.A.... Read More

September, 2018

Working Papers
Does Improved Local Supply of Schooling Enhance Intergenerational Mobility in Education? Evidence from Jordan

Areas of Interest: Economic History Development Economics Political Economy Education: Ph.D. Economics, University of Southern California, 2012 M.A.... Read More

October, 2013

Working Papers
Intergenerational Transmission of, and Returns To Human Capital And Changes Therein over Time: Empirical Evidence from Egypt

Areas of Interest: Economic History Development Economics Political Economy Education: Ph.D. Economics, University of Southern California, 2012 M.A.... Read More

February, 2009

Working Papers
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