Takahiro Yamada is an Economist (Jr. Professional Officer) in the Office of the Chief Economist for the South Asia Region at the World Bank. Taka has various practical experiences in the economic development arena across Asia and the Pacific, South Asia, Central America, and the Caribbean. His professional interests include the process of economic development, the economics of geography, and the issues on sustainable development. Before joining the World Bank, he has worked as an Economist for the Japanese Ministry of Finance and JICA Credit Risk Analysis Division, and as a consultant for ILO, UNDP, among others. Taka holds a PhD from Nagoya University, Japan.