Francesca Lotti joined the World Bank's Institute of Economic Development in July 2025 from the Research Department of the Bank of Italy, where she led the Firms and Regional Analysis Division and later served as Adviser to the Head of the Directorate. Her research explores business dynamics, innovation, productivity, and industrial policy.
She has served as Vice-Chair of the OECD Committee on Industry, Innovation and Entrepreneurship and as a Country Expert in the European Commission’s Chief Economist Network with Member States. Francesca has also advised the Italian Ministry of Economic Development and the Ministry for Territorial Cohesion on economic policy.
Her academic work has appeared in leading journals, including Econometrica. She is Professor of Firm Dynamics and Economics of Innovation at LUISS University in Rome, and a member of the CEPR Network on Growth, Innovation and the Social Model in Europe, led by Professor Philippe Aghion.
Francesca holds a PhD in Economics from the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, and was a visiting fellow and special student at Harvard University and the NBER.