Will Martin is an Australian economist who researches agricultural economics, international trade policy, and global food security. He is a Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and previously worked at the World Bank for 24 years.
Early life and education Martin grew up on a family dairy farm in Queensland.
He earned a Bachelor of Agricultural Science from the University of Queensland in 1975 and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University in 1979. He completed his graduate studies at Iowa State University, receiving a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics in 1981 and a Ph.D. in Economics in 1982.
Career Martin began his career in 1975 as a Research Officer and Assistant Director at the Bureau of Agricultural Economics in Canberra.
In 1991, he joined the World Bank, serving in roles such as Lead Economist for Trade in the Development Research Group and Research Manager for Agriculture and Rural Development. His work at the World Bank included analyzing the Uruguay Round, the Doha Development Agenda, and China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO).
Martin served as President of the International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE) from 2015 to 2018. Since 2015, he has been a Senior Research Fellow at IFPRI in Washington, D.C.
Research Martin's research analyzes trade barriers, agricultural subsidies, and the effect of food prices on populations in low-income countries.
In 2008, The Economist cited research by Martin and Maros Ivanic regarding the impact of rising staple food costs on global poverty levels. This data was subsequently utilized by World Bank President Robert Zoellick to advocate for international action on food security. The Financial Times has also cited analysis by Martin and Kym Anderson regarding WTO negotiations and farm trade liberalization.
His work is widely cited within the field of economics, with over 21,000 citations and an h-index of 73 as of May 2026. The IDEAS/RePEc database ranks him among the top 10% of agricultural economists globally.
Awards and recognition 2009: Distinguished Fellow, Australasian Agricultural and Resource Economics Society (AARES) 2016: Inductee, Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) Hall of Fame 2021: Fellow, Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) Honorary Life Member, International Association of Agricultural Economists (IAAE)
Selected publications Books
Journal articles
References