Giulia Mascagni

Giulia Mascagni

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Biography

Prof Giulia Mascagni is a Research Fellow at the Institute of Development Studies and Executive Director of the ICTD. Her main area of work is taxation, but she also has research interest in public finance, evaluation of public policy, and aid effectiveness. She is an economist by training, holding a PhD in Economics from the University of Sussex. Her main geographical interest lies in African countries, with a particular focus on Ethiopia and Rwanda.

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Partner PublicationReport

Bold investment in the basics of tax administration is key to sustained revenue gains

October 2026
Giulia Mascagni, Awa Diouf

Partner Publication

Fiscal politics: The missing link between fiscal policy and gender equality

November 2025
Caren Grown, Giulia Mascagni

Research in Brief

The Interpersonal Side of Tax Compliance: Interactions Between Taxpayers and Tax Officials in Rwanda

September 2025
Giulia Mascagni, Celeste Scarpini, Denis Mukama, Fabrizio Santoro, Naphtal Hakizimana

Policy Brief

The Tax Era of Development: Taxing Smarter for Equity, Growth, and Resilience

June 2025
Max Gallien, Martin Hearson, Giulia Mascagni, Giovanni Occhiali, Daisy Ogembo, Vanessa van den Boogaard

Policy Brief

Taxing the Wealthy in Lower-Income Countries: Why It’s Important, and How to Do It

February 2025
Giovanni Occhiali, Giulia Mascagni, Wilson Prichard, Martin Hearson

Policy Brief

Tributação dos Ricos nos Países de Baixo Rendimento: Porque é Importante e Como Fazê-lo

January 2025
Giovanni Occhiali, Giulia Mascagni, Wilson Prichard, Martin Hearson
The future of development starts with getting tax right
18 May 2026

The future of development starts with getting tax right

Taxation is a central part of a new era of development that has fiscal resilience, system change and people at…
Read more : The future of development starts with getting tax right
Read more : The future of development starts with getting tax right
Why tax expenditure reporting is a missing link in financing for development
24 April 2026

Why tax expenditure reporting is a missing link in financing for development

With aid budgets shrinking and debt vulnerabilities mounting, the $4 trillion governments forgo annually through exemptions, credits, and preferential rates…
Read more : Why tax expenditure reporting is a missing link in financing for development
Read more : Why tax expenditure reporting is a missing link in financing for development
Taxing smarter is the key to thriving in an era of declining aid
19 January 2026

Taxing smarter is the key to thriving in an era of declining aid

With 2025, the development sector changed for good. Today scaling up tax mobilization is a essential to succeed in the…
Read more : Taxing smarter is the key to thriving in an era of declining aid
Read more : Taxing smarter is the key to thriving in an era of declining aid
With aid declining, FfD4 must include a concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems
24 April 2025

With aid declining, FfD4 must include a concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems

I recently took part in the third high-level symposium of the UNDP’s Finance, Integrity and Governance Initiative with experts and…

Read more : With aid declining, FfD4 must include a concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems
Read more : With aid declining, FfD4 must include a concrete commitment to scale up investment in tax systems
Time for a broader, bolder approach to tax justice for women
28 March 2025

Time for a broader, bolder approach to tax justice for women

As policymakers gather to discuss gender and tax at the UN today, this blog draws on research to call for…
Read more : Time for a broader, bolder approach to tax justice for women
Read more : Time for a broader, bolder approach to tax justice for women
Addressing Gender Disparities in Tax Expenditures
4 September 2024

Addressing Gender Disparities in Tax Expenditures

Understanding the interaction between tax expenditures and gender-based inequalities is essential to ensure that the tax system is fair and…
Read more : Addressing Gender Disparities in Tax Expenditures
Read more : Addressing Gender Disparities in Tax Expenditures
Three ICTD researchers stood behind large white block latters spelling ATRN.
9 October 2026

ICTD researchers at Africa’s largest tax research gathering, Rwanda

Researchers from the International Centre for Tax and Development (ICTD) joined more than 280 tax administrators, policymakers, academics, and development…

Read more : ICTD researchers at Africa’s largest tax research gathering, Rwanda
Read more : ICTD researchers at Africa’s largest tax research gathering, Rwanda
ICTD and Zambia Revenue Authority host Future of Tax Reform forum in Lusaka
23 July 2026

ICTD and Zambia Revenue Authority host Future of Tax Reform forum in Lusaka

ICTD and ZRA partner to host in Lusaka a two-day event focused on identifying effective and equitable strategies for tax…
Read more : ICTD and Zambia Revenue Authority host Future of Tax Reform forum in Lusaka
Read more : ICTD and Zambia Revenue Authority host Future of Tax Reform forum in Lusaka
Fiscal sustainability through partnerships and evidence: insights from the Global Partnerships Conference
27 May 2026

Fiscal sustainability through partnerships and evidence: insights from the Global Partnerships Conference

At the Global Partnerships Conference, experts and representatives from government and civil society argued that the future of development increasingly…
Read more : Fiscal sustainability through partnerships and evidence: insights from the Global Partnerships Conference
Read more : Fiscal sustainability through partnerships and evidence: insights from the Global Partnerships Conference
ICTD’s home institution IDS ranks first in the world for Development Studies for tenth year in a row
1 April 2026

ICTD’s home institution IDS ranks first in the world for Development Studies for tenth year in a row

The landmark achievement, announced in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, makes IDS and Sussex only the fifth…
Read more : ICTD’s home institution IDS ranks first in the world for Development Studies for tenth year in a row
Read more : ICTD’s home institution IDS ranks first in the world for Development Studies for tenth year in a row
Five recommended reads on gender and tax for International Women’s Day 2026
6 March 2026

Five recommended reads on gender and tax for International Women’s Day 2026

This International Women’s Day, we highlight the role of fiscal policy in advancing gender equality and the research that helps…

Read more : Five recommended reads on gender and tax for International Women’s Day 2026
Read more : Five recommended reads on gender and tax for International Women’s Day 2026
Long-time ICTD collaborator Prof Anuradha Joshi to lead Institute of Development Studies
9 January 2026

Long-time ICTD collaborator Prof Anuradha Joshi to lead Institute of Development Studies

The Institute of Development Studies, institutional base of the International Centre for Tax and Development, announced the appointment of its…
Read more : Long-time ICTD collaborator Prof Anuradha Joshi to lead Institute of Development Studies
Read more : Long-time ICTD collaborator Prof Anuradha Joshi to lead Institute of Development Studies
A Roadmap for Fiscal Sustainability: Taxing Smarter for Growth and Equity | Global Partnerships Conference side event

A Roadmap for Fiscal Sustainability: Taxing Smarter for Growth and Equity | Global Partnerships Conference side event

Virtual

19 May 2026 – 15:05

•

Timezone: Europe/London

Organised on the sidelines of the Global Partnerships Conference, our side event will provide practical lessons drawn from research on tax reform in lower-income countries.
Read more : A Roadmap for Fiscal Sustainability: Taxing Smarter for Growth and Equity | Global Partnerships Conference side event
Lecture: The need for more inclusive, equitable tax and multilateral systems

Lecture: The need for more inclusive, equitable tax and multilateral systems

Virtual

3 December 2025 – 16:00

•

Timezone: Europe/London

Fresh from the UN Tax Convention negotiations in Nairobi earlier this month, Mukumba will discuss why reforming the global tax architecture matters for everyone, not just the global South that is pushing for change.
Read more : Lecture: The need for more inclusive, equitable tax and multilateral systems
Tax Digitalisation in Africa: Policy Meets Research

Tax Digitalisation in Africa: Policy Meets Research

Virtual

11 September 2025 – 13:00

•

Timezone: UTC

This ICTD–World Bank-ATAF webinar explores how Digital Public Infrastructure is reshaping tax systems in Africa, and the opportunities and challenges it brings.
Read more : Tax Digitalisation in Africa: Policy Meets Research

Media coverage

17 July 2026

ICTD’s new partnership with Zambia Revenue Authority garners media attention

Giulia Mascagni
The signing of ICTD’s new memorandum of understanding with the Zambia Revenue Authority gained coverage among local media, including the…
Read more
Read more : ICTD’s new partnership with Zambia Revenue Authority garners media attention

Media coverage

15 January 2026

Giulia Masacagni pens op-ed for Devex on taxing smarter in ‘post-aid era’

Giulia Mascagni
ICTD Executive Director Giulia Mascagni published an opinion piece on Devex on how ‘taxing smarter is the key to thriving…
Read more
Read more : Giulia Masacagni pens op-ed for Devex on taxing smarter in ‘post-aid era’

Media coverage

14 July 2025

Giulia Mascagni guests on Voice of Islam

Giulia Mascagni
ICTD Executive Director Giulia Mascagni was interviewed on Voice of Islam’s Drive Time show….
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Read more : Giulia Mascagni guests on Voice of Islam

Media coverage

3 July 2025

Tax Expenditures coalition co-founded by ICTD features in TaxNotes report

Giulia Mascagni, Giovanni Occhiali
The Coalition for Tax Expenditure Reform, launched under the Sevilla Platform for Action by ICTD and four other global research…
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Read more : Tax Expenditures coalition co-founded by ICTD features in TaxNotes report

Media coverage

2 July 2025

FfD4: Giulia Mascagni shares insights on ‘tax era of development’ at Casa Devex

Giulia Mascagni
ICTD Executive Director Giulia Mascagni was interviewed at Casa Devex in Seville, Spain, during the Fourth the Financing for Development…
Read more
Read more : FfD4: Giulia Mascagni shares insights on ‘tax era of development’ at Casa Devex

Media coverage

25 March 2025

Giulia Mascagni pens a Letter to the Editor of the Financial Times

Giulia Mascagni
ICTD Executive Director Giulia Mascagni published a letter to the editor of the Financial Times on the need for “responsible…
Read more
Read more : Giulia Mascagni pens a Letter to the Editor of the Financial Times