Petia Topalova
Last Updated: February 5, 2025
Petia Topalova is division chief at the Development Macroeconomics division of the Research Department. Prior to that, she was advisor in the Research Department, Mission Chief for the Slovak Republic, deputy chief in the Emerging Economies unit of the European Department and the World Economic Studies division in the Research department, economist in the European, and Asia and Pacific Department of the IMF, and Adjunct Lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. She earned a Ph.D. in Economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2005. Her research is in the areas of economic development and international trade.
Email: PTOPALOVA@imf.org
Fluent In: Bulgarian.
Education:
Ph.D., Economics, MIT, 2000-2005
B.A., Economics, Brandeis University, 1995-1999
Previous Experience:
IMF, Research Department, Advisor, 2022-2024
IMF, European Department, Mission Chief for the Slovak Republic, 2019-2022
IMF, European Department, Emerging Europe Unit, Deputy Unit Chief, 2019-2022
IMF, Research Department, World Economic Studies Division, Deputy Division Chief, 2016-2019
IMF, European Department, Senior Economist (Italy), 2014-2015
Harvard University, Center for International Development, Visiting Scholar, 2012-2014
Harvard University, John F. Kennedy School of Public Policy, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, 2012-2014
IMF, Research Department, World Economic Studies Division, Economist, 2010-2012
IMF, Asia and Pacific Department, Economist (India, Bhutan), 2008-2009
IMF, Research Department, Development Macro Division, Economist Program, 2006
Editorial Activities:
IMF Economic Review, Associate Editor, 2014-2015
Current Position:
IMF, Research Department, Development Macroeconomics Division Chief, 2024-current
Field of Expertise:
Poverty and Inequality
International Trade
Development Economics