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His research focuses on understanding ways to improve the wellbeing of vulnerable populations in low- and middle-income countries. Within this overarching theme, Dr. Acharya primarily uses Randomized Controlled Trials and quasi-experimental designs to answer critical policy questions. 

The effect of financial incentives

For example, in , Dr. Acharya and a colleague test the effect of financial incentives to outreach health workers in Nepal on the utilization of screening for diabetes. They show that differential incentives to the outreach workers—incentives that vary by the ethnicity of the individual referred for a checkup—can encourage advantaged health workers to work across ethnic lines and improve utilization by traditionally disadvantaged groups.

His most recent research investigates ways to optimize the use of antibiotics in community settings through interventions targeted to community pharmacies, , and ; and ways . His work using secondary data centers on key dimensions of disadvantage in LMICs, primarily disability status, gender, and, in parts of South Asia, caste. 

Trained as a global health economist

A native of Arghakhanchi district, Nepal, Dr. Acharya was trained as a global health economist at the University of Michigan and holds a master’s degree in public administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Swarthmore College. He previously worked as an economist at Moody’s (US) and the Asian Development Bank (Nepal) and taught at Kathmandu University School of Management (Nepal). 

The primary purpose of his visit to ESHPM is to explore research collaborations with colleagues. He also welcomes opportunities to meet doctoral students and faculty from the wider Erasmus University community.