About
Afra Fairooz is an economic researcher specialising in emerging market economies, energy, and sustainability. Her work is supported by rigorous data analysis and rooted in the principles of international political economy. A United World College alum, Ms. Fairooz holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Middlebury College and is pursuing a master’s in economics from Northeastern University. She is fluent in Bengali, English, and Spanish.
Values and Vision
Ms. Fairooz’s passion for Political Economy stems from a desire to understand our world, the complex systems that govern it, and the diverse communities and perspectives that shape it. She believes that economic theories and explanations should be accessible to a heterogenous audience. Her vision is to continue working to explain complex systems in an approachable manner, provide actionable solutions, and instil the joy economics along the way.
Selected Experience
Teaching Assistant, Ethics of AI
Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Ms. Fairooz facilitated weekly office hours and led discussions on the ethical integration of AI across professional and academic fields and on the economic impacts of AI. She evaluated and provided structured feedback for weekly essays on AI’s economic benefits and consequences, AI governance, ethical system designs, and policy intervention for responsible AI deployment.
Climate Change and Sustainability Services Intern
Ernst & Young, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Ms. Fairooz evaluated the impacts of EU ESPR (Eco-design for Sustainable Product Design) on the RMG sector of Bangladesh through researching academic and industry literature, policy papers, and government publications. She benchmarked leading European apparel brands such as, Zara, H&M, Primark, to understand market behaviour and ESG compliance strategies. She collaborated with fellow analysts to model a EU Green Deal compliance strategy for Bangladeshi manufacturers and co-authored a paper highlighting the cost-benefit analysis.
Government Affairs Fellow
Progressive Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
Afra Fairooz built, cleaned, and analysed a comprehensive dataset on labour market composition across 100+ U.S. research institutes and presented findings to experts to support workforce policy research and briefings. She researched U.S.-E.U. trade relations and authored policy memos and briefings for bipartisan lawmakers. Her experience at PPI helped her realise how qualitative and quantitative research supports experts and eventually becomes policy,
Research Assistant
Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
Ms. Fairooz worked in a team to compile a large-scale dataset on abortion access in the U.S. generating key metrics on appointment availability, wait times, and services provided. The empirical findings supported Prof. Caitlin Myer’s expert testimony before the U.S. House Budget Committee.
Responsible Business Advisory Intern
PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Afra Fairooz developed sustainable business strategies for export oriented industries through literature review, baseline studies, and ESG assessments. She also supported a World Bank funded sustainability initiative designed to train government officials on ESG standards and compliance.
Latest Publication
Read Ms. Fairooz’s latest publication on how macroeconomic stabilisation policies shaped Pakistan’s energy sector.
Afra Fairooz 