Amira El-Shal

Amira El-Shal

Acting Associate Director of Research, J-PAL MENA

Amira is the Acting Associate Director of Research for J-PAL MENA, an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science of Cairo University, and an ERF Affiliate. At J-PAL MENA, she leads the research activities aimed at generating rigorous evidence to enhance our understanding of whether and how programs work to reduce poverty in the MENA region. Prior to joining J-PAL MENA, she worked as a Consultant at the World Bank, a Senior Consultant at the African Development Bank, an Economic Consultant at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, an Economic Consultant at the Office of the Economic Affairs Advisor to the President of Egypt, and an Economic Expert at Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation. Amira holds a PhD in Economics from City, University of London and an M.Sc. in Economics from University College London.

Areas of Interest:
  • Health Economics
  • Development Economics
  • Gender Economics
  • Environmental Economics
Education:
  • Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London, 2017
  • MSc Economics, University College London (UCL), 2010
  • MSc Economics (Coursework); Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University, 2008
Experience:
  • Senior Policy Manager; The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL), Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge), 2021-Present
  • Assistant Professor of Economics; Department of Economics, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University (Giza), 2018-Present
  • Senior Consultant; Microeconomics, Institutional, and Development Impact Division, African Development Bank (AfDB) (Abidjan), 2018-2020
Latest Publications:
  • “Indirect Impact of Health Disasters on Maternal and Child Mortality.” Economic Analysis and Policy, 74, 477–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2022.03.003. Co-authored with Mahmoud Mohieldin and Eman Moustafa. 2022
  • “Discontinuation of Performance-Based Financing in Primary Health Care: Impact on Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health.” International Journal of Health Economics and Management. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10754-022-09333-w. Co-authored with Patricia Cubi-Molla and Mireia Jofre-Bonet.2022
  • “Are User Fees in Health Care Always Evil? Evidence from Family Planning, Maternal, and Child Health Services.” Economic Analysis and Policy, 72, 0–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2021.08.009. Co-authored with Patricia Cubi-Molla and Mireia Jofre-Bonet. 2021
Beyond The Norms: Innovation, Productivity, and Gender in Egyptian Firms

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

October, 2024

Working Papers
Beyond the Norms: Innovation, Productivity, and Gender in Egyptian Firms

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

March, 2024

Conference Paper
Sovereign Risk Mispricing and Investor Herding: MENA Debt Markets

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

March, 2024

Conference Paper
Who Pay Bribes and How Much? Gender and Firm-Level Corruption in MENA and Egypt

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

May, 2023

Conference Paper
The Greater Beast: Weather-related and Health Disasters in MENA

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

May, 2023

Conference Paper
3
Supporting Research for Arab Development
Fiscal Sustainability in the MENA Region in Light of COVID-19 Crisis

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

2020-01-01

Annual Conferences
ERF 30th Annual Conference: Parallel Sessions

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

Apr 21, 2024

Conferences
Reimagining Social Protection in MENA

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

Nov 19, 2023

Annual Conferences
ERF 29th Annual Conference – Parallel Sessions

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

May 04, 2023

Webinars
The Impact of Covid-19 on Households and Firms in the MENA Region

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

May 23, 2022

Annual Conferences
Revisiting Macroeconomic Management in Times of Crisis and Beyond – Parallel Sessions – March 27

Areas of Interest: Health Economics Development Economics Gender Economics Environmental Economics Education: Ph.D., Economics; City, University of London,... Read More

Mar 26, 2022

2
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