Leila Baghdadi
Senior Economist, MENA Chief Economist Office, World Bank
Leila Baghdadi is a Senior Economist at the MENAAP Chief Economist Office, World Bank. Prior to that, Leila was a Professor of Economics at ESSECT, University of Tunis, where she held the World Trade Organization Chair. She was an executive board member of the Central Bank of Tunisia from August 2019 to June 2023. She was appointed as a member of the Tunisian Council of Economic Analysis reporting to the Chief of Government from November 2017 to February 2021. Her research interests focus on international and development economics. Leila received her PhD from University Paris 1, Pantheon Sorbonne in 2008. In 2006, she was a WTO PhD fellow. She joined University of Rome Tor Vergata as a Marie Curie Researcher in September 2007.
Areas of Interest:
- Trade
- Firms
- Gender
- Trade and Environment
Education:
- PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1 Sorbonne, Paris, France, 2008
- DEA (M.A.) in International Economics, University of Paris 1 Sorbonne, Paris, France, 2003
- Maîtrise (BA) in Economics: With distinction, University of Aix–Marseille III - University of Tunis El Manar (Exchange Program), Aix-en Provence, France, 2002
Experience:
- Senior Economist (ETC), MENA Chief Economist Office, World Bank, 2023 - Present
- Full Professor of Economics, ESSECT, University of Tunis, 2020 - Present
- Associate Professor of Economics, University of Tunis, 2015 - 2020
Latest Publications:
- Medini A., Baghdadi L., (2024), "COVID-19 shock on supply chains: evidence from a developing country", Journal of Industrial and Business Economics
- Siewers L., Martinez-Zarzoso I.,Baghdadi L., (2024), "Global value chains and firms’ environmental performance", World Development
- Cruz M., Baghdadi L., Arouri H., (2022), "High growth firms and trade linkages: Imports do matter", Small Business Economics
- Kruse H., Martinez-Zarzoso I., Baghdadi L., (2021), "Standards and political connections: Evidence from Tunisia", Journal of Development Economics
Global Value Chain Participation and Economic Growth in MENA: Examining Nonlinearities
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
March, 2025
Conference PaperPublic Debt, Growth, and Stabilization in Tunisia: A New Narrative for A Structural Reform Agenda
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
September, 2023
Working PapersDebt and Stabilization in Tunisia: Building Resilience and Avoiding the Austerity Trap
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
September, 2023
Policy BriefsIs Covid-19 Driving Up Consumer Prices in Tunisia? Evidence from the Pass-Through of the Covid-19 Shock
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
May, 2022
Policy BriefsCovid-19 Shock: Pass-Through to Consumer Prices in Tunisia
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
February, 2022
Working PapersStabilization and Adjustment: Towards Inclusive and Sustainable Policies in MENA
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
2021-12-01
The Economic Impact of COVID-19 in MENA Region
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
2020-05-01
Jobs and Women: Untapped Talent, Unrealized Growth
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
Mar 25, 2026
ERF 31st Annual Conference: Parallel Sessions
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
Apr 27, 2025
ERF 30th Annual Conference: Tragedies of Regional Conflicts and Promises of Peacebuilding
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
Apr 21, 2024
ERF 30th Annual Conference: Parallel Sessions
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
Apr 21, 2024
ERF 29th Annual Conference: The Future of MENA Development Path: Risks and Opportunities in an Emerging World Order
Areas of Interest: Trade Firms Gender Trade and Environment Education: PhD in International Economics, University of Paris 1... Read More
May 04, 2023