FarhadPanahov

Toronto, Canada

Economist
& Researcher

I am an economist and quantitative researcher. Most of my work has been building the analytical layer underneath Canadian public policy research — growth and competitiveness, the energy transition and climate, autos and trade. Usually that means taking a question nobody has good numbers for and finding a way to measure it.

I currently work with RBC's Thought Leadership team and Climate Action Institute, where I author, co-author and contribute to the flagship reports. I've also worked with the World Bank on measuring green employment in developing labour markets, and with Prof. Alissa Kleinnijenhuis on quantifying the costs and benefits of fossil-fuel phase-out globally.

I studied economics at UBC and hold a master's from MIT. In Toronto I sit on the board of the Toronto Association for Business and Economics (TABE), help run the MIT Alumni Club, and mentor through UBC's alumni program.


You can find me at the Madison Avenue Pub on Wednesdays, playing chess.

Farhad Panahov

Selected research

Independent

EV Atlas [in progress]

Research and tracking of EV adoption across Canada and the world.

RBC · Climate Action Institute

Climate Action Report

The Institute's annual assessment of Canada's progress on the energy transition — where the money is going, what is moving, and what is not. One of the research leads across four editions.

RBC · Thought Leadership

Capital Gains

How Canada can unlock the $1.8 trillion of investment it needs for growth — where the capital has to come from, and what stands in its way.

World Bank

Choosing Our Future

Measuring green employment in developing labour markets. Co-author of "Green Skills" chapter.

Experience & education

Experience

Economist, RBC Thought LeadershipRoyal Bank of Canada2022 — present
Research Associate, RBC EconomicsRoyal Bank of Canada2019 — 2021
Short-Term Consultant, ResearchWorld Bank Group2023 — 2024
Research ProfessionalProf. Alissa Kleinnijenhuis (currently at Columbia University)2024 — 2025

Education

Master in Data, Economics and Development PolicyMassachusetts Institute of Technology2022
BSc Economics, concentration in mathematics and statisticsUniversity of British Columbia2017
CFA Level I
CFA Level II (planned)
Climate Risk, Valuation and Investing
CFA Institute
Python, R

Activities

Board MemberToronto Association for Business & Economics
Leadership, Event programming and alumni engagementMIT Alumni Club of Toronto
MentorUBC Alumni Mentorship Program