Welcome!

I am an Assistant Professor and development economist at Georgetown University, School of Foreign Service. During 2024-2025 I was a Provost’s Distinguished Faculty Fellow.

My research is in development economics, often intersecting with behavioral economics. My work has two main strands: The first focuses on the social and economic inclusion of refugees, with work studying refugees’ health-seeking behavior, children’s human capital, and the impacts of humanitarian interventions. The second strand of my research focuses on harmful social norms, and includes work on mental health stigma, health attitudes, and how gender norms intersect with climate adaptation.

I received my PhD from Harvard in 2024 (Public Policy Economics track).

Email: emma.smith@georgetown.edu
Pronouns: she/her/hers