Recent News | Department of Economics

The Department of Economics at Easwari School of Liberal Arts successfully organised a two-day workshop titled “Applied Econometrics: Leveraging with Software and Databases” on March 7 – 8, 2025. The workshop witnessed the participation of approximately 40 attendees, comprising academicians, research scholars, and students from various institutions, including SRM IST, VIT-AP and Amrita University. The significant turnout reflected the keen interest in applied econometrics and the practical implementation of statistical software (R and STATA) for economic analysis.

The primary objective of the workshop was to provide a comprehensive understanding of econometric principles while emphasising hands-on training with statistical software such as STATA and R. Participants received practical exposure to key econometric techniques, including time series modelling, cross-sectional data analysis, and panel data estimation, thereby enhancing their empirical research capabilities.

The workshop featured four insightful sessions conducted by distinguished experts in the field of econometrics:

• Dr Anandarao Suvvari (IIT Goa) – Delivered an in-depth session on fundamental econometric techniques and their applications in STATA and R.
• Dr Mohan Rao Balaga (IIT Dharwad) – Provided a comprehensive analysis of time series methodologies, covering ARIMA, VECM, VAR, and ARDL models using macroeconomic and financial datasets.
• Dr Pratap C Mohanty (IIT Roorkee) – Delivered a session on cross-sectional data techniques, encompassing linear and non-linear models, instrumental variable (IV) estimation, and applications utilizing NSSO and large-scale survey data.
• Dr Vineesh Prakash (SRM University-AP) – Conducted an extensive session on panel data models, discussing Fixed Effects (FE), Random Effects (RE), Generalized Method of Moments (GMM), and dynamic panel models using CMIE ProwessIQ data.

The interactive nature of the sessions enabled participants to engage with the resource persons, deliberate on real-world econometric applications, and undertake practical case studies utilizing empirical datasets. The rigorous discussions and hands-on exercises significantly contributed to a deeper understanding of applied econometrics.

This two-day workshop proved an enriching academic initiative, equipping participants with essential econometric skills and strengthening their analytical capabilities in economic and financial data analysis. The positive feedback from attendees underscored the effectiveness of the workshop particularly in integrating theoretical knowledge with hands-on implementation.

The Department of Economics at Easwari School of Liberal Arts organised a panel discussion titled “Decoding the Budget: Insights, Perspectives, and the Big Picture” on February 03, 2025. The event was designed to provide in-depth insights into the Union Budget 2025-26, focusing on fiscal priorities, economic implications, and sectoral impacts. The discussion brought together distinguished experts from academia and policymaking to analyse key announcements and their long-term effects.

The panel discussion featured three esteemed panellists:

– Prof. Vinish Kathuria (Director, Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur & IIT Bombay) – Expertise: Productivity Measurement, Economics of Regulation, and Environmental Economics.

– Prof. D K Nauriyal (Professor, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT Roorkee) – Expertise: International Trade, Development Economics, and Economics of Intellectual Property.

– Dr Sujit Kumar (Chief Economist, National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development – NaBFID) – Expertise: Banking & Finance, Infrastructure, and the Indian Economy.

The experts analysed the macroeconomic factors influencing the budget, such as inflation control, fiscal deficit management, and global economic trends. The panellists discussed the implications of the budget on critical sectors, including infrastructure, banking, environmental sustainability, and trade policies. The discussion highlighted significant policy changes to boost economic growth and social welfare initiatives. The Q&A session allowed participants to seek clarifications and gain deeper insights into budget-related policies and their long-term effects.

Students, faculty, scholars, and individuals interested in economic policy and financial analysis participate in the discussion. Participants also joined online as the event was in the hybrid mode.

The panel discussion on Decoding the Budget 2025-26 successfully gave attendees a clearer understanding of India’s financial and economic direction. The expert insights helped bridge the gap between budgetary announcements and their practical implications. Students, faculty, and policymakers benefited from the interactive discourse, enhancing their knowledge of economic policies and fiscal governance.

This insightful session emphasised the importance of informed economic discussions in shaping perspectives on national financial policies and governance strategies.

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