Hi, I am Mohammad Fidakar, a displaced scholar from Afghanistan and currently a third-year Ph.D. student in Economics at Emory University, where I also work with Dr. O’Connell. My research interests lie at the intersection of development economics and political economy, with a focus on conflict, displacement, migration, and social cohesion.

I hold a B.A. in Economics from Balkh University in Afghanistan and a Master of Development Policy (MDP) from KDI School in Sejong, South Korea. Before joining Emory, I taught undergraduate courses in economics at Ghazni University, where I began my academic career in 2014 and was appointed to lead the university’s research center in 2020.

As I step outside work, I find joy in photography— which enables me to take “a closer look” at the beauty of the nature— as well as in gardening and playing soccer.

Download my curriculum vitae.