Muhammad Meki

Development economics; researching finance & development @UniofOxford @ODID_QEH

[Nicola Limodio @NicolaLimodio]

I typically do not post working papers. If anything, I prefer to write about published papers of mine (so rarely), or about the wonderful papers/colleagues from whom I learn so much (often about the #WEFIDEV network in #Finance & #Development).

But this one feels a little different.

"Microdata for Research in Macroeconomics and Finance" is a fun paper that I wrote along the way (@cepr_org DP link below), after @pogourinchas, #PetiaTopalova, and #NanLi from the @IMFNews reached out with the idea of taking stock of how microdata are changing research in macroeconomics and finance, stimulated by the excellent work of the @FCDOGovUK headed by @DennisNovy.

The central idea is simple: over the last two decades, economics & finance have been transformed by the growing availability of granular data (credit registries, firm balance sheets, digital payments, and more). These allow us to move beyond aggregate averages & ask sharper questions. Who is constrained? Which firms respond to policy? How do payment systems reshape economic activity? Where are market imperfections most binding? And more.

This matters everywhere, but especially in low-income countries, where importing policies from high-income settings can be misleading. Market frictions, informality, enforcement, institutional capacity, and financial infrastructure often differ in fundamental ways. Better policy requires understanding these mechanisms from the ground up.

In the paper, I construct a new dataset of more than 1,900 academic publications using nine types of microdata, drawn from the top 50 journals in economics and finance between 2000 and 2025. The dataset combines bibliometric work, LLM-processing, and human verification.

[VoxDev @vox_dev]

What have we learned about microfinance?

In one of our most listened-to episodes of VoxDevTalks this year, Jing Cai @MuhammadMeki @simonrquinn discussed the latest research on microfinance and how we can use it to inform policy: https://t.co/9QxtXoyzms

[ODID @ODID_QEH]

Job opportunity! ODID and Wolfson College seek applications for an Associate Professor in Development Economics.

⏰ Deadline: 8 December

Details: https://t.co/o13Rv7wMYo

[Gaurav Chiplunkar @gchiplunkar]

PEDL turns 15(!) and we are getting folks together for a conference. Send us your best papers by October 20 and come hangout with us in beautiful Oxford in March.

Details: https://t.co/c2gj9tG6NQ

Special session for PhD students! Spread the word.

[Nicola Limodio @NicolaLimodio]

@cepr_org @KelloggSchool @KimFeCramer Fantastic keynote speakers: Viral Acharya (@nyuniversity) and Emily Breza (@Harvard). More info available at https://t.co/EXmCEJ6E9O and link to submit available here https://t.co/HrYwnotMpf

[Nicola Limodio @NicolaLimodio]

What a joy to announce the 2026 WEFIDEV-RFS-@cepr_org Conference on #Finance & #Development on Apr 18-19 at @KelloggSchool. Co-organized with #GiorgiaBarboni, @KimFeCramer, #SeanHiggins, RFS Executive Editor Tarun Ramadorai & RFS Editor Viral Acharya. Submit by Nov 16! Info ⬇️

[Eric Verhoogen @EricVerhoogen]

Submission deadline for this PEDL young scholars workshop (to take place the day before the Oct 24-25 @The_IGC/@YaleEGC Firms/Trade/Development conference) is Sept 7 (soon!). For researchers post-PhD but untenured (or <=8 years out). Hope to see many of you there.

[VoxDev @vox_dev]

🆕 Unlocking investment in small firms through performance-linked financial contracts

Today on VoxDev, @MuhammadMeki (@ODID_QEH) discusses the impact of performance-linked contracts on small firms in Kenya and Pakistan: https://t.co/34FmfWa8j2

[Stefan Dercon @gamblingondev]

Visiting Fellowships for African Economics Scholars!

Not long to go, but application is easy. lots of info on the web - including a Q&A podcast.

[International Growth Centre @The_IGC]

This week, at the 2025 WEFIDEV–RFS–CEPR Conference,@LSEnews, experts will explore:

💰Fast payment systems like India’s UPI & Brazil’s Pix
SME
💰Financing & banking innovations in low-income countries

🔗https://t.co/2Mm4QrlO9w
#FinanceForDevelopment @cepr_org #Finance

[Imran Rasul @ImranRasul3]

BREAD is going to South Asia! Our next in-person conference outside US/Europe will be @EconomicsLUMS in Lahore, Pakistan: Sept 11-13.
Submissions open to all, workshop includes a mentoring program.
Thanks to @GLMLIC & all our partners.
Please RT to help spread the word!
Links👇

[Stefan Dercon @gamblingondev]

Centre for the Study of African Economies at University of Oxford will automatically consider all applicants from Africa for full funding for the MPhil in Economics - we have new scholarships for eligible students.

Apply asap: deadline 4th March (extended deadline): see below

[CSAE @Oxford_CSAE]

Less than 2 weeks to register for the CSAE Conference 2025! #OxCSAE2025

⏰Deadline: 23 Feb
Register: https://t.co/Aefm69U4w1

Keynote Speaker: James Robinson, Nobel Prize winner in 2024, Professor at @HarrisPolicy, & Fellow at the University of Nigeria.

[Kim Fe Cramer @KimFeCramer]

We are thrilled to share the WEFIDEV-RFS-CEPR Conference program on #Finance and #Development, with an RFS dual submission! Thanks everyone for contributing to our community. See you in March at LSE! @LSEnews, @SFSjournals, @giorgiabarboni, @NicolaLimodio
https://t.co/kpfRnqnHCd

[Nicola Limodio @NicolaLimodio]

I'm ecstatic to announce ⏬the program for the 4th WEFIDEV - RFS @SFSjournals - @cepr_org Conference on #Finance and #Development! This the first "dual submission" opportunity with the RFS: 2 more in the next 2 years, stay tuned & in touch for more! Many thank yous ahead...

[ODID @ODID_QEH]

In the latest #VoxDevLit on #microfinance and accompanying #VoxDevTalk, ODID’s @MuhammadMeki and fellow Senior Editors Jing Cai and Simon Quinn review the state of knowledge on microfinance.

[VoxDev @vox_dev]

🆕 Better financial contracts can unlock business growth in Kenya

Today on VoxDev, w/ Francesco Cordaro, Marcel Fafchamps @FSIStanford, Colin Mayer @BlavatnikSchool, @MuhammadMeki @ODID_QEH, Simon Quinn @ImperialBiz & Kate Roll @IIPP_UCL: https://t.co/8Z29j9bj5V

[Tim Phillips Talk Normal @timsvengali]

⭐ VoxDev Talks: NEW EPISODE Today ⭐

What have we learned about microfinance? @MuhammadMeki @UniofOxford & Jing Cai, Uni Maryland & Simon Quinn @imperialcollege talk to @timsvengali about the lessons in the latest #VoxDevLit from @vox_dev.

Listen: https://t.co/52wZIElR2O

[VoxDev @vox_dev]

🆕 What have we learned about microfinance?

#VoxDevLit Issue 3 summarises the latest research w/ Jing Cai @MuhammadMeki @simonrquinn Erica Field @JMorduch @_farahsaid @cynthia_kinnan & @jondequidt: https://t.co/y5XZbNvQh4

Today's podcast covers this Lit: https://t.co/9QxtXoyzms

[Ghita Chraibi @GhitaChraibi7]

🔍 HAPPENING TOMORROW: How can equity-like contracts unlock investment potential in small firms? A #PSDRN virtual seminar exploring the intersection of finance and development with Dr. Meki (Oxford University) & Michelle Brock (EBRD)

🔗 To join: https://t.co/cAXCgn6ueu