Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
Economics
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
1998
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Faculty
Faculty
Elizabeth Asiedu, Ph.D.
Professor
Department/Office
- Economics
School/College
- College of Arts & Sciences
Biography
Elizabeth Asiedu, Ph.D., is a professor of economics at Howard University whose scholarship focuses on development economics, international economics and macroeconomics. She earned her Ph.D. in economics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she also completed master’s degrees in economics and mathematics, after receiving a bachelor’s degree with honors in mathematics and computer science from the University of Ghana. Before joining Howard University in 2021, Asiedu spent more than two decades on the faculty at the University of Kansas, where she held leadership roles including associate department chair and director of graduate studies.
Asiedu’s research examines the drivers of economic development in Africa and other developing regions, with particular emphasis on foreign direct investment, international trade, gender and economic opportunity, and the role of institutions and policy in shaping growth outcomes. Her work has been widely published in leading journals including World Development, Journal of International Economics, Review of Economics and Statistics and American Economic Review Papers and Proceedings. Recognized internationally for her scholarly contributions, Dr. Asiedu has been listed among the world’s top 2 percent of scientists and ranks among the top economists globally on RePEc and SSRN. Her research and policy expertise also has informed work with organizations such as the World Bank, the African Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund.
In addition to her research and teaching, Asiedu is a leading advocate for expanding opportunities for women in economics. She is the founder and president of the Association for the Advancement of African Women Economists (AAAWE), an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting women economists across Africa and the diaspora. Her leadership and mentorship have earned numerous honors, including the 2025 American Economic Association Distinguished Service Award and the Cecilia A. Conrad Impactful Mentor Award. Through her scholarship, global policy engagement and commitment to mentorship, Asiedu continues to play an influential role in advancing research and building the next generation of scholars in development economics.
Education & Expertise
Education
Master of Science (M.S.)
Economics
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
1994
Master of Science (M.S.)
Mathematics
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign
1992
Bachelor of Science (B.S.) (Hons)
Mathematics and Computer Science
University of Ghana, Legon
1988
Expertise
International Economics
Development of Africa
Academics
Academics
Undergraduate Courses
International Economics
Graduate Courses
Growth & Development
Development of Africa
International Economics
Research
Research
Funding
Project: Grant to support African Women Economists to participate in the African Econometric Society Conference in Benin. $10,000. Funding Agency: African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), Kenya. May 2018-August 2018.
Project: Inclusive Growth in Africa: A Gender Perspective. $165,000. Funding Agency: African Development Bank, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. January 2015-January 2017.
Project: Grant to support the Professional Development of African Women Economists; $50,000. Funding Agency: African Development Bank, Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. January 2014-January 2016.
Accomplishments
Accomplishments
President and Founder of the Association for the Advancement of African Women Economists (AAAWE)
Included in the 2025 Top 2% World Scientists List
American Economic Association Distinguished Service Award, 2025
American Economic Association Cecilia A. Conrad Impactful Mentor Award, 2025
Publications and Presentations
Publications and Presentations
On the Relationship between Financial Constraints and Firm Owners' Gender
This paper examines regional differences in gender parity regarding firms’ access to finance in developing countries. The study employs data from 133,525 firms across 113 developing countries and six regions from 2006 to 2023 to analyze whether female-owned businesses experience greater financial constraints than their male counterparts, with particular attention to regional heterogeneity.
The Mental Health of Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
The Mental Health of Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence: A Systematic Literature Review
This systematic literature review examines the differences in mental health outcomes among children exposed to intimate partner violence, focusing on age and gender variations. While much of the existing research has centered on adult victims of IPV, fewer studies have systematically analyzed its effects on children and how these impacts differ based on developmental stages and gender.
On the Impact of Income per Capita on Health Outcomes
On the Impact of Income per Capita on Health Outcomes: Is Africa Different
This paper examines the link between income per capita, adult life expectancy and mortality rates for children. We estimate a dynamic panel model using data from 128 developing countries and find that all else equal external (i.e., non-country specific) factors have a positive and significant impact on health outcomes, and this effect has increased over time; countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have a higher mortality rate and lower life expectancy than non-SSA countries and the effect of income per capita on health outcomes is different for SSA countries.
The Determinants of Electricity Constraints by Firms in Developing Countries
The Determinants of Electricity Constraints by Firms in Developing Countries
We employ survey data for 108 developing countries over the period 2006–2017 and estimate an ordered probit model to determine the firm and country characteristics that affect the probability that a firm is energy poor—i.e., the firm will report that electricity is an obstacle to the firm's operations. We find that firms that experienced power outages and firms in the manufacturing industry are more likely to be energy poor. In contrast, majority-owned government firms and older firms are less likely to be energy poor. The gender of the firm owner and the size of the firm are not correlated with firm energy poverty. Among firms that experienced power outages, firm energy poverty increases with the frequency as well as the duration of outages. We also find that firms that operate in countries with weak institutions and in countries where residents have limited access to electricity are more likely to be energy poor.
