Wissal Sahel | Economics | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Wissal Sahel | Economics | Best Researcher Award

Ph.D. Candidate at Mohammed V University of Rabat, Morocco

Wissal Sahel is a 27-year-old Moroccan development economist currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Development Economics at Mohammed V University in Rabat. Her research explores the macroeconomic determinants of structural change in developing countries. Wissal has a strong academic background, with a Master’s in Economics and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ibn Tofail University in Kenitra. She has worked as a research assistant, a teaching assistant, and interned with various organizations, contributing significantly to economic research projects. Passionate about economic development, Wissal has presented her work at prestigious conferences like the African Economic Conference 2023 and the Jobs and Development Conference 2022. 🌱📈

Publication Profile : 

Orcid

Educational Background 🎓

  • Ph.D. Candidate in Development Economics, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 2021 – Ongoing
    Thesis: On the macroeconomic determinants of structural change in the developing world.
  • Master’s in Economics, Mohammed V University in Rabat, 2019 – 2020
    Thesis: Transformation structurelle au Maroc: Un essai de mesure.
  • Bachelor’s in Economics, Ibn Tofail University, 2016 – 2018
  • Baccalaureate in Mathematics, Sidi Aissa High School, 2015

Professional Experience 💼

Wissal has held multiple positions that align with her academic focus, working in prestigious institutions such as Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, the High Commission for Planning, and the Ministry of Economy, Finance, and Administrative Reform in Morocco. She was a Research Assistant at Mohammed VI Polytechnic University, where she contributed to the project on Morocco’s economic transformation. Additionally, she interned at the High Commission for Planning, working on structural analysis projects and at the Ministry of Economy, focusing on Morocco’s economic information systems. Wissal has also taught courses like Development Economics and Advanced Macroeconomics at Mohammed V University, sharing her expertise with Master’s students in public policy and economics. 👩‍🏫📊

Research Interests 🔬

  • Structural Change and Economic Development: Understanding the macroeconomic forces that drive structural changes in developing economies.
  • Sectoral Policies in Morocco: Investigating industrial policies and their impact on Morocco’s development trajectory.
  • Climate Change and Labor Productivity: Assessing how climate change influences labor reallocation and productivity in the developing world.
  • Data Analytics and Econometrics: Applying advanced statistical methods, such as panel data analysis and input-output analysis, to study economic transformations. 🌍📉

Key Achievements 🌟

  • Best Young Researcher Paper Award, African Economic Conference 2023
  • Excellence Award in Methodology, Mohammed V University, 2021
  • Publications & Working Papers: Wissal has co-authored book chapters and articles on structural change and economic development in Morocco, with her work published in UNU-WIDER and other academic outlets.

Publications 📚

  • Journal Article (2024)
    Title: Structural change in Morocco: Rethinking Industrial Policies
    Published in: Structural Change and Economic Dynamics
    Date: December 2024
    DOI: 10.1016/j.strueco.2024.12.008
    ISSN: 0954-349X
    Contributors: Wissal SAHEL, Idriss EL ABBASSI


  • Working Paper (2023)
    Title: Structural change and the National Initiative for Human Development in Morocco: Subnational insights
    Published in: WIDER Working Paper
    Date: June 2023
    DOI: 10.35188/unu-wider/2023/382-6
    ISBN: 9789292673826
    ISSN: 1798-7237
    Contributors: Al-mouksit Akim, Wissal Sahel