What is development economics?
October 13, 2023
A professor in the Department of Economics, Dr. Alok Kumar has made major contributions on issues related to inflation, entrepreneurship, productivity growth, and child labor and human capital in developing countries. He has published in leading journals such as International Economic Review, Journal of Development Economics and Review of Economic Dynamics.
Can you explain your research area?
My research has focused on understanding the performance and behavior of entire economy (national productivity, inflation, unemployment) and development economics. Developing countries are characterized by low income, with a substantial share of the population having inadequate access to financial and social safety nets.
Insufficient investment in education both private and public poses an important barrier to development and poverty reduction in these countries. My recent research has focused on issues such as linkages between education and productivity level in developing countries, effects of gender bias on the health and education of children and the role of public education and foreign aid. It examines the effects of inadequate accessibility of banking and credit facilities to poor on their schooling and earnings.
What do you find most interesting about your work?
Growing up in a developing country like India, I have first-hand knowledge of how lack of access of quality education, discrimination based on gender and social caste/class and inadequate financial resources can have debilitating effects on the economic well-being and betterment of people and society. In my research, I endeavor to analyze real world economic issues with high policy relevance using state of art economic approaches and methodologies.
Can you explain the research impact your work has on community?
My contributions are well received as attested by publications in high quality economics journals and multiple presentations in domestic and international conferences and workshops.
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