Lars Engen is a research officer in the Development Strategy and Finance programme. His interests are centred around foreign investments in developing countries and the role of the private sector in development finance. Lars holds an MSc in Political Economy of Late Development from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and spent a year studying in China.

Before joining ODI Lars did research and capacity building on trade and investment agreements in the Asia-Pacific region for the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCAP). Previously, he has also worked at the OECD Development Cooperation Directorate on official development assistance for private sector development and infrastructure