Andrew Zeitlin

Andrew Zeitlin is an Associate Professor at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University. He also serves as a Non-Resident Fellow at the Center for Global Development, an Affiliated Professor at J-PAL, and a Research Associate at the Centre for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University. His research focuses on experimental methods to study how individual decision-making impacts state effectiveness, including public-sector incentives, tax policy, and social welfare programs.

Zeitlin’s work emphasizes field and lab experiments in developing economies, particularly in Rwanda and Uganda. Key topics include performance contracts for civil servants, cash transfer program efficacy, and tax audit policies. In 2024, he received the Provost’s Distinguished Achievement in Research Award for contributions to teacher incentive studies in Rwanda.

His recent articles explore cash vs. in-kind transfers, youth employment barriers, and public-sector performance reforms. Notable collaborations include work with Craig McIntosh on medium-term employment impacts and analyses of Rwanda’s tax evasion strategies. He has also contributed to policy discussions on refugee economic integration and small business development in conflict-affected regions.

Zeitlin’s affiliations with global institutions like J-PAL and CGD reflect his commitment to applied policy research with real-world impact. His grants and projects focus on scalable solutions for governance challenges in Africa, combining rigorous empirical analysis with actionable insights for policymakers.