Sebastian S. James is a distinguished Professor of the Practice of Public Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University, and an affiliate of the Duke Center for International Development. He holds a Ph.D. (2007) and M.P.A. (2004) from Harvard University, and a B.S. from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (1993).
Before joining Duke, James served as a Senior Economist at the World Bank for over 15 years, advising numerous countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe on tax policy and administration, with a focus on promoting economic growth and ensuring fiscal sustainability. His work at the World Bank also encompassed areas like the impact of tax policy on investment, inequality, and climate change, with his research on tax incentives gaining wide recognition.
Prior to his time at the World Bank, Sebastian James worked with the Indian Revenue Service, holding senior roles in India’s tax administration and policy between 1996 and 2002. His extensive experience in global fiscal matters has made him a leading expert in public policy and tax reform.
Now, he has been appointed as Advisor (Fiscal Affairs) in the Department of Finance, Government of Punjab. In this role, he will advise the government on financial resource mobilization, reviewing capital and revenue expenditure and its rationalization, augmenting the state’s finances, and restructuring fiscal debt.
