Stephen Howes

Prof Stephen Howes is a Professor of Economics and Director of the Development Policy Centre at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU). He holds a PhD in Economics from the London School of Economics (LSE). Previously, he served at the World Bank for a decade and was AusAID’s first Chief Economist (2005). His research focuses on development economics, corruption, federalism, and economic policy in developing countries, with a particular emphasis on Papua New Guinea (PNG) and India. He leads the Development Policy Centre, which conducts applied research to inform development policies in the Asia-Pacific region.

Key research interests include aid effectiveness, governance, resource management, and household welfare analysis. His work frequently employs quantitative methods and policy analysis to address challenges in developing economies. Prof Howes has contributed to significant projects such as the PNG-Australia academic partnership and the Harold Mitchell Foundation-funded Development Policy Centre.

He has authored/co-authored over 65 publications, including books, chapters, and peer-reviewed articles on topics like decentralization, tax compliance, and economic trajectories. His research has been cited over 292 times, reflecting its influence in academic and policy circles.