Welcome to my website!
I am an Assistant Professor of Economics at the Lahore University of Management Sciences. I completed my Ph.D. in Applied Economics from UC Davis in June 2025.
I am an applied microeconomist with research interests that span the fields of health, development, and labor economics, with a particular focus on household dynamics and gender.
My research, focused on developing economies, addresses the role of social protection in: (i) women empowerment and employment; (ii) maternal healthcare utilization and mental health; and (iii) child health. In doing so, I also engage with how to make poverty alleviation programs more effective in the face of targeting and compliance challenges, and large-scale climatic shocks.
Always happy to collaborate on areas of similar interest! Please feel free to reach me via email at warda.riaz@lums.edu.pk