Mariana Vijil (Ph.D) is a Senior Economist at the World Bank Group, specialized on private sector development issues. She has led analytical, advisory, and lending projects in several countries in Africa, East Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Her research has been published in professional journals such as World Bank Economic Review, The World Economy and Environment and Development Economics. She is a research associate at the Foundation for International Development Study and Research (FERDI). Prior to joining the Bank, Mariana was Deputy Head of the Trade Policy Department at the French Directorate General of the Treasury.