Recent News | Department of Economics

Prof. Irudaya Rajan, Founder Chair of the International Institute of Migration and Development and Distinguished Visiting Faculty at the Department of Economics, Easwari School of Liberal Arts, engaged with faculties, scholars and students on a compelling talk on “The Future of Student Migration” on November 22, 2024. Prof. Rajan delved into the crucial role of migration in shaping and redefining national demographics and offered valuable insights into internal and international migration trends, explaining their profound impact on labour markets, education systems, and policy-making. His talk sparked engaging debates and discussions, enriching the understanding of migration as a dynamic force in demographic change and national development.

During his visit, Prof. Rajan also interacted with faculty and students, discussing collaborative research projects and sharing his expertise. The session was a thought-provoking exploration of migration’s pivotal influence on global and local contexts, leaving the audience with much to reflect upon.

The Department of Economics proudly announces that Mr Nilesh A, a third-year B.Sc. Economics (Hons.) student, has secured a highly coveted one-month research-based internship at the Reserve Bank of India, Mumbai. This internship is under the Department of Economic and Policy Research (DEPR).

“I am thrilled to share my experience of securing an internship at the Reserve Bank of India, a journey that was significantly supported by the resources and guidance provided by my university. I am grateful to all my professors at Easwari School of Liberal Arts at SRM University-AP for their unwavering support and encouragement. This internship is a pivotal step in my career, and I am excited about the future and eager to continue building on this incredible foundation,” stated Nilesh while expressing his gratitude for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Internships are remarkable opportunities to gain experience and exposure, build a strong network, and hone the skills you already possess. The Easwari School of Liberal Arts of SRM University-AP provides academic and research internships prioritising experiential and industry-based learning to help students cultivate a refined practical skillset.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, societies across the globe were pushed into acute constraints, especially in the absence of employment security and consistency. In this regard, Dr Boddu Srujana, Assistant Professor at the Department of Economics through her research paper titled, Women’s Labour Market Outcomes and Contours of Subnationalism: A Comparison Across Four States in India, scrutinises the impact of the pandemic on women’s employment and thereby explores whether these outcomes were uniformly impacted or if they reveal variations attributable to the political dynamics within these states.

Read the exciting excerpt followed by the link to the article, featured in Economic and Political Weekly

Abstract:

Using, the Periodic Labour Force Survey data for 2018–19 and 2020–21, the article explores shifts in women’s employment outcomes pre- and post-pandemic across four Indian states. The article finds that the states with stronger subnational politics fare better in creating quality employment outcomes for women compared to their counterparts, even during times of crisis such as the recent COVID pandemic. This stands true even for women with disadvantaged social, economic and educational backgrounds.

Practical implementation of research and social implications:

The research highlights the effectiveness of governance and emphasizes social policies over time that can create better job opportunities for women, where they can secure against vulnerabilities even during challenging times such as crises. This leads to greater economic independence, reduces poverty, and promotes social equity.

Collaborators:

The research paper is co-authored with Anagha Tobi and Sipoy Sarveswar.

Anagha Tobi is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, Mahindra University, Hyderabad. Sipoy Sarveswar is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Anthropology, Vidya Bhavana, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan.

Future Plans:

As part of her future research projects in this area, Dr Srujana plans on studying the urban informal labour markets, urbanisation, the dynamics of informalisation, the future of work, and the impact of public policy on labour markets. She is eager to extend her work in these areas by engaging in collaborative research while also partnering with academic institutions, policymakers and NGOs, whereby she aims to contribute to the changing world of work and develop actionable insights that can inform policy and practice

Link to the article.
https://www.epw.in/journal/2024/23/perspectives/womens-labour-market-outcomes-and-contours.html

In a thought-provoking article titled “Political Manifestos Ignore the Labor Class,” Dr Aurolipsa Das and Dr Srujana Boddu, Assistant Professors from the Department of Economics, shed light on a critical issue that often goes unnoticed during election seasons. Their research delves into the disconnect between political promises and the ground realities faced by the labour class.

They critically examine the shortcomings of political manifestos, highlighting how they often overlook the interests and needs of the labour class. As India heads into another election cycle, Dr Aurolipsa Das and Dr. Srujana’s article serves as a wake-up call for policymakers. To bridge the gap between political promises and ground-level impact, evidence-based policies that prioritise the labor class are essential. It is time for political parties to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps toward meaningful progress.

Read the full article by clicking on this link to gain deeper insights into this crucial topic.

The Department of Economics takes immense pride in announcing the publication of the research paper, “Determinants of Rural Households’ Income Inequality in India” authored by Dr Ghanshyam Pandey, Assistant Professor. The paper has been published in the Journal of Agricultural Economics Research Review (ABDC-C), and has an impact factor of 0.19. Dr Pandey’s paper examines the factors that determine income inequality among rural farm households in India and discusses the implications of the findings for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers. The study highlights how addressing the identified factors could potentially reduce income inequality among rural farm households and improve the overall well-being of the rural population.

Abstract

This study has identified the drivers of income inequality in rural India using IHDS 2011–12 national-level survey. The inequality decomposition methodology developed by Fields (2003) based on a two-way regression methodology has been used. The study has modified the previous regression based inequality decomposition technique by accounting for diverse income sources and regimes as well as by effectively correcting for selectivity in the various income regimes. The CLAD model has been used to distinguish the determinants of income inequality in rural India. The study has indicated that income inequality in farm households can be attributed to the level of education, family size, caste/social group composition, and composition in land ownership and that family size and land ownership are instrumental primarily due to off-farm labour income. The study has shown that education is a significant factor in income inequality due to its impact on off-farm work income. The study has suggested that a continued increase in variability in land distribution may exacerbate income inequality in households in rural India.

Link to the Article

Pandey G and Devi B (2023). Determinants of rural households’ income inequality in India. (2024). Agricultural Economics Research Review, 36(2), 213-225. https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/AERR/article/view/150669