Laura V. Zimmermann

Laura V. Zimmermann serves as Associate Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia's School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA), holding a secondary appointment in the Department of Economics. She concurrently serves as APRIES Labor Economist and International Migration Expert at UGA's Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO) and leads the Science Advice Working Group within the Global Young Academy.

• BA in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics (PPE) from University of Oxford
• MA and PhD in Economics from University of Michigan

Her research focuses on labor economics, public economics, and political economy in developing contexts, particularly examining India's National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS). She investigates political economy impacts of large-scale government reforms, household resource allocation following economic shocks, and gender's role in decision-making processes. Her work bridges empirical analysis of development interventions with policy-relevant insights on poverty reduction, electoral politics, and gender dynamics.

Her 15 most recent publications (2024-2012) reveal consistent thematic focus on Indian political economy, with recurring examination of public works programs, gender bias in household allocation, and shock responses. Key trends include methodological rigor in analyzing large government initiatives, geographical concentration on South Asia, and interdisciplinary approaches combining economics with political science. Recent work increasingly addresses transparency mechanisms in governance and VAT policy impacts.

Dr. Zimmermann's scholarly recognition includes:

• Membership in the Global Young Academy (GYA)
• Inclusion in the International Science Council (ISC) Global Roster of Experts

Through her APRIES role at CenHTRO and Global Young Academy leadership, she actively contributes to research on human trafficking mitigation and science policy advice frameworks. While specific advising details are unreported, her faculty appointments indicate graduate student mentorship in international affairs and economics at UGA.

Her primary research affiliations include UGA's Center on Human Trafficking Research & Outreach (CenHTRO) through the African Programming & Research Initiative to End Slavery (APRIES), and the Global Young Academy's Science Advice Working Group, positioning her at the nexus of development economics research and anti-trafficking policy applications.