Person

Amrita Saha

Amrita Saha

Research Fellow

Amrita Saha is an economist with a focus on political economy and development. She works with the Rural Futures and the Business, Markets and State clusters at IDS.

Her ongoing research explores the political economy of trade protection, agricultural commercialization in Sub-Saharan Africa, innovation and inclusive structural change. Amrita holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Sussex. Her past research roles have included working with the Commonwealth Secretariat in London, the Ministry of Commerce in India, WTO Geneva, and United Nations ESCAP. She has also taken up various teaching roles at IDS, LSE, SOAS, University of Sussex, and University of Bath.

Amrita has extensive experience in designing and implementing large-scale household and firm-level surveys, small-scale targeted surveys and structured interviews. Her work demonstrates a combination of rigorous quantitative modelling, qualitative methods, and the use of digital applications for survey design. She is particularly interested in working on political economy issues for India, South Asia, and Sub-Saharan Africa.

Amrita is the convener of the IDS specialist short course Making Trade Policy Inclusive.

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Research

Project

The Justice Footprint of Mineral Imports in UK Value Chains

The climate crises and energy transition underpin the new European Open Strategic Autonomy Policy, aiming at 'de-risking' trade and reduce dependence on critical minerals, in line with the UK’s Critical Mineral Strategy. Mining is the first link of most global value chains (e.g. electronic...

Project

Implementation Research in Food Policy

Our Implementation research work maps the process of design and delivery of project interventions using methods such as social network analysis, behavioural change assessments and political risk analysis. It works with a theory of change to identify and analyse areas for strengthening of...

Project

eModule on Gender and Trade

A specialised online training module (eModule) was designed and delivered on gender and trade for the Ministry of Commerce, Pakistan.

Opinions

Opinion

Trump’s tariffs and labour-market effects

In a period of rising geopolitical risks posed by conflict, natural disasters and the impacts of climate change there has been significant volatility in world markets. Lives and livelihoods have been lost and supply chains disrupted, resulting in long-term consequences. Centre stage amid these...

19 February 2025

Publications

Working Paper

Politicisation and the Role of Business in Trade Negotiations

IDS Working Paper 620

The changing geo-political landscape has shifted focus from generalised normative preferences in trade policy towards more realist goals that seek to create the best advantage for a country under given circumstances. Consequently, as trade issues have become linked to polarised debates including...

Amrita Saha
Amrita Saha & 3 others

11 April 2025

Publication

An Inclusive Lens on Aid for Trade

IDS Policy Briefing 218

In a rapidly evolving global trade and development landscape, addressing trade-related challenges through aid for trade (AfT) remains highly relevant. This Policy Briefing provides a framing for an inclusive lens on AfT to enable more inclusive policy and programming.

Amrita Saha
Amrita Saha & 2 others

27 February 2025

Amrita Saha’s recent work

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