Mihir Desai
Mihir Desai is the Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance at Harvard Business School and a Professor of Law at Harvard Law School. A globally recognized economist and thought leader, Desai is one of the foremost scholars in corporate finance, governance, and international taxation. His research explores the design of tax policy in a globalized economy, the intersection between corporate governance and taxation, and the internal capital markets of multinational firms. Desai’s work provides critical insights for executives, investors, policymakers, and asset managers seeking to understand the complexities of modern finance and the global economic landscape. His academic publications have appeared in leading journals across economics, finance, and law. In addition to his teaching and research at Harvard, Desai is a Research Associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, contributing to its Public Economics and Corporate Finance programs, and formerly co-directed NBER’s India program. Prior to entering academia, he gained industry experience at Credit Suisse First Boston and McKinsey & Company, and has advised numerous firms and government bodies on financial strategy and policy design.
Mihir Desai Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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Mizuho Financial Group Professor of Finance
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Research Associate, Public Economics and Corporate Finance Programs
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Financial Analyst
Academic History
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Ph.D., Political Economy
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M.B.A., Baker Scholar
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B.A., Economics and History
RESEARCH EXPERTISE
Professor Mihir Desai’s academic research spans corporate finance, taxation, and public economics, with a particular focus on multinational firms.
His work addresses key issues such as earnings management, dividend policy, capital structure, valuation, and corporate governance. In public economics, he examines how tax policy influences firm financing, investment decisions, and social welfare.
Beyond academia, Desai has written widely on the effects of globalization and tax reform, offering critical insights into how financial systems shape economic outcomes.
He has testified multiple times before the U.S. Congressional bodies, including the Senate Finance Committee, on corporate tax reform and international tax policy, and has advised leading companies and institutions on finance and taxation strategy.
ACADEMIA
An award-winning professor at Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, Desai has taught extensively in the areas of international finance, taxation, and corporate governance.
He developed the second-year elective International Financial Management, and his cases on global finance are compiled in a casebook published by John Wiley & Sons, widely taught at top business schools worldwide.
He has also led courses and seminars at NYU Law School and Columbia Law School. At Harvard, Desai has played a key role in shaping educational innovation, launching the Program for Research in Markets and Organizations (PRIMO) to connect undergraduates with HBS faculty, contributing to the founding of the Harvard Innovation Lab, and helping design Tata Hall, one of HBS’s signature buildings.
He also serves on the Harvard Libraries Board and teaches in several Executive Education programs, including the renowned General Management Program (GMP), both on campus and globally.
PUBLICATIONS
Professor Desai has authored over 25 case studies, a leading casebook on international finance, and numerous academic and general-interest publications.
His research has been featured in top-tier journals and cited by The Economist, BusinessWeek, The New York Times, and other major media outlets.
He is also a frequent contributor of opinion pieces on finance, taxation, and globalization for publications such as The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal, Tax Notes, and The New York Times.