Overview
Robyn C. Meeks is the Mark and Lynne Florian Associate Professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy at Duke University. She is a research affiliate at Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (J-PAL) at MIT, senior editor of the VoxDevLit on Electricity Infrastructure, and an associate editor at AEJ: Applied.
During the 2023 – 2024 academic year, Prof. Meeks was a Climate Fellow at Harvard Business School’s Institute for the Study of Business in Global Society (BiGS).
Her research is at the intersection of environmental, energy, and development economics with much of her work focusing on understanding individual, household, and firm responses to the introduction of various water and energy technologies, policies, and types of infrastructure in low- and middle-income countries. Much of this work relates to and informs development policies as well as climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. Professor Meeks has implemented research in a number of countries in Asia, Africa, and North and South America. On-going research is in Benin, China, Nepal, Pakistan, and the United States.
Professor Meeks has a bachelor’s degree from Brown University, a master’s degree from Yale University, and a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Current Appointments & Affiliations
Recent Publications
Incentivizing Grid Reliability: A Framework for Performance-Linked Electricity Improvements in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Report · October 6, 2025 Reliable electricity is the foundation of modern economies and essential to social and human development. Without it, firms cannot expand, hospitals cannot operate safely, and households hesitate to invest in appliances and tools that improve daily life. I ... Open Access Link to item CiteDown to the Wire: Leveraging Technology to Improve Electric Utility Cost Recovery
Journal Article American Economic Journal: Applied Economics · October 1, 2025 We study the effects of a technical intervention in Karachi, Pakistan—converting bare distribution wires to aerial bundled cables (ABCs)—that was intended to prevent illegal grid connections and improve utility cost recovery. Theft-resistant cable ... Full text CiteDecentralized renewable energy to grow manufacturing? Evidence from microhydro mini-grids in Nepal
Journal Article Journal of Environmental Economics and Management · March 1, 2025 Firms in developing countries often identify electricity as a major constraint to operations. Decentralized renewable energy sources, which are often promoted as a tool to achieve sustainable development, could help alleviate these constraints by providing ... Full text CiteRecent Grants
Evaluating the Impact of Free Solar Panel Installations on Grid-Connected, Low-Income Households in Punjab, Pakistan.
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab · 2025 - 2027Benin II Off-Grid Energy Access Project Evaluation
ResearchInvestigator · Awarded by Social Impact · 2018 - 2027Information and behavioral approaches to reduce electricity theft and pollution from electricity provision
ResearchPrincipal Investigator · Awarded by Massachusetts Institute of Technology · 2022 - 2025View All Grants