Congratulations to Professor Selim Gulesci who was named a Fellow on Trinity Monday. Selim is an Associate Professor of Economics whose work sits at the heart of development economics, with a focus on entrepreneurship, gender, and education. He has conducted randomised controlled trials across South Asia, South America, and sub-Saharan Africa, on topics ranging from agricultural tenancy contracts and ultra-poor graduation programmes to access to childcare and vocational training for young women. He holds a PhD from the London School of Economics and previously held a position at Bocconi University.
A recurring theme in his research is the economic barriers facing women. His work has examined how childcare access affects women's businesses in Uganda, how domestic violence laws interact with social norms in Pakistan, and how flexible loan contracts shape risk-taking among microentrepreneurs in Bangladesh. A 2025 paper in the American Economic Review sets out a "stepping stone" approach to understanding how social norms change over time, a theoretical contribution with broad implications for development policy. He also serves as Scientific Advisor for J-PAL Africa's Girls' Education and Empowerment portfolio.