Sebastian Eckardt is the World Bank’s Lead Economist and Program Leader for China, Mongolia and Korea where he coordinates the Bank’s work on macroeconomics, trade, finance, poverty and public-sector reforms. An economist by training and conviction, he joined the World Bank in 2006 and has since worked in front-line roles in economic analysis, dialogue and operations supporting clients in the areas of macroeconomic, fiscal and institutional reforms across more than dozen countries in Europe, South and East Asia. Before moving to Beijing in August 2019, he spent four years as the World Bank’s Lead Economist for Vietnam, based in Hanoi. Early in his career he also spent several years in Jakarta, Indonesia. Prior to joining the Bank, Sebastian worked for the German Government. A German national, he holds a MSc from the University of Birmingham, UK and PhD in Public Finance from the University of Potsdam, Germany.