People

Tim O’Brien

  • Senior Manager, Applied Research

Tim O’Brien has managed Growth Lab applied research projects on five continents since joining the team in 2015.

He has led diagnostic work, capacity building, and execution of the Growth Lab’s overall research collaborations in South Africa, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, Jordan, Albania, Western Australia, and Wyoming. Tim has also led the Growth Lab’s student engagement efforts, including the growth of its summer internship program, and works to build rich collaborations across Harvard Kennedy School research programs to target place-based challenges and practical research needs.

Before joining the Growth Lab, Tim completed the MPA/ID program at the HKS. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in rural Malawi and holds a degree in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University.

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Address

John F. Kennedy School of Government
Mailbox 34

79 JFK Street

Cambridge, MA 02138

Email Address

Tim_OBrien@hks.harvard.edu

Phone Number

617-495-8344

Role

Applied Research

Fellows

Senior Leadership

Recent Publications

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Research Projects

  • A colorful sign of Hermosillo adjacent to a city street with businesses

    Project

    Latin America

    Charting Economic Growth Strategies in Hermosillo

    As part of our research agenda on cities as engines of economic growth, researchers are studying emerging growth opportunities across Sonora with a focus on Hermosillo that stem from a context of relocation of global supply chains, green energy transition, and the rise of knowledge-intensive services.
  • Wooden sign reads Wyoming, Rock Springs Coal with freight train cars and railroad tracks in the background

    Project

    North America

    Pathways to Prosperity in Wyoming

    This project leverages frameworks of growth diagnostics and economic complexity to address varied statewide challenges, while working collaboratively with stakeholders across the state to improve outcomes in housing, workforce access, local spending, and growth of energy opportunities.
  • Landscape of homes with mountains in the distance

    Project

    Africa

    Growth Through Inclusion in South Africa

    The Growth Lab is working to diagnose the causes of South Africa’s economic challenges and collaborate with government and beyond to accelerate growth and include more South Africans in the process of economic growth.
  • Aerial view of solar panel farm in the desert

    Project

    Jordan

    COVID-19 Economic Response and Long-term Growth in Jordan

    Research collaboration to understand the macroeconomic impacts of COVID-19 and inform policy responses in the short-term; and understand long-term impacts on economic growth and inform updates to national and regional growth strategies.

  • Project

    Albania

    Economic Growth and Institutional Strengthening in Albania

    Recognizing the transformative potential that rests with the Albanian diaspora, the project worked hand in hand with the government and diaspora groups in the United States to find ways of engaging Albanians abroad with social and economic development in Albania.
  • shutterstock_1920254630_minit_pit_kalgoorlie_australia.jpg

    Project

    Australia

    Realizing Economic Growth in Western Australia

    The Growth Lab used its Growth Diagnostics and Economic Complexity methodologies to analyze the State of Western Australia’s economy and to identify avenues for productive diversification and sustainable economic transformation both at a state and regional level.
  • City skyline view focused on a high-rise building under construction with a pool in the foreground

    Project

    Africa

    Advancing Economic Diversification in Ethiopia

    The Growth Lab and the Government of Ethiopia initiated this engagement in 2019 to advance research, policy analysis, and knowledge sharing toward the goal of sustaining rapid and inclusive growth in the country.
  • Amman, Jordan cityscape

    Project

    Jordan

    Macroeconomic Stability & Long-Term Growth in Jordan

    This project deployed research guided by Growth Diagnostic and Economic Complexity methodologies, first to understand constraints to growth and key opportunities and later to guide problem-specific research.
  • New Pathways to Inclusive Growth in Sri Lanka

    Project

    Asia

    New Pathways to Inclusive Growth in Sri Lanka

    Multi-phase research project in collaboration with the Government of Sri Lanka aimed on putting growth on a sustainable and inclusive footing.