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Sebastian S. James, Professor of Practice  

Office Location: 276 Rubenstein Hall, 201 Science Dr, Durham, NC 27708
Duke Box: 90243
Email Address: sebastian.james@duke.edu

Areas of Expertise

    Education:
    Ph.D., Harvard University, 2007
    M.P.A., Harvard University, 2004
    B.S., Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (India), 1993

    Teaching (Spring 2025):

    • Pubpol 702.01, Applied development economics Synopsis
      Rubenstein 153, MW 08:30 AM-09:45 AM
    • Pubpol 790.03, Special topics in idp Synopsis
      Sanford 102, Tu 04:40 PM-07:10 PM

    Recent Publications

    1. James, S. "Tax Incentives Around The World." Rethinking Investment Incentives: Trends and Policy Options. Columbia University Press, July, 2016  [abs]
    2. Van Parys, S; James, S. "The effectiveness of tax incentives in attracting investment: panel data evidence from the CFA Franc zone." International Tax and Public Finance 17.4 (August, 2010): 400-429. [doi]
    3. Corporation, IF. A Handbook for Tax Simplification.  2009.  [abs]

    Highlight:

    Sebastian S. James is Professor of the Practice of Public Policy at the Sanford School of Public Policy. Previously, he was Senior Economist at the World Bank where he was for over fifteen years. At the World Bank, he has advised several countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe on the design of their tax policy and tax administration with an emphasis on economic growth and fiscal adequacy. He has also worked in cross-cutting areas covering the role of Tax Policy on Investment Policy, Inequality and Climate Change and his research work on Tax Incentives is influential. Prior to the World Bank he was with the Indian Revenue Service and held senior positions in the India’s Tax Administration and Tax Policy between 1996 and 2002.

    Sebastian S. James