Sunil Ashra

Academic Background

• Ph.D. Economics 1999: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, INDIA. Centre for Economic Studies & Planning Thesis title: Agriculture-Industry Interactions and Monetary Transmission Mechanism: The case of India
• M. Phil. Economics 1995: Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, INDIA. Centre for Economic Studies & Planning Thesis title: Transport & Economic Development: A Case Study of Indian Railway
  Specializations: Theories of Economic Growth & Technical Change; Development Economics; Economics of Planning; Advanced Econometrics.
• M.A. Economics 1992: Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi, INDIA. Specializations: Public Economics; Transport, Location & Infrastructure; Money & Credit; Advanced Econometric Methods.
• B.A.(Hons.) Economics 1989: University of Delhi Area of Specialization - Applied research in macroeconomics, behavioural economics, microeconomics, agriculture industry interactions, international economics, econometrics, biofuels, poverty and inequality, and Aviation & Railway transport sector.

Work Experience

Teaching Experience (20 years)

Currently Professor of Economics at MDI. Joined MDI in April 2004.

Taught courses on Behavioural Economics, Macroeconomic Theory & Policy Infrastructure Economics & Financing, Demand Forecasting, International Economics, Industrial Economics, Microeconomics, Public Finance, and Econometrics courses.

Visiting Faculty at the I.I.M. Kashipur (2019-2020) and IIM Udaipur (2020-21), - Macroeconomics.

Visiting Faculty in 2008-9 at the CFVG, University of Vietnam, HCMC Centre for the course in International Economics.

Visiting Faculty in 2007-8 at the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Dubai Centre - Microeconomics.

Visiting Faculty for MBE at Department of Business Economics, University of Delhi, South Campus. Subjects: Advanced Microeconomics and Econometrics.

Visiting Faculty for M. Phil. at the Department of Business Economics University of Delhi, South Campus for the Advanced Econometrics.

Taught Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Econometrics at the FORE School of Management, New Delhi, from June 2001-April 2004.

A.R.S.D. College, Delhi University (as Visiting Faculty for academic year 2000-01): Teaching Microeconomics to B.A.(Honours) Economics.

Dyal Singh College, Delhi University (as Visiting Faculty for academic year 1994-95): Taught Microeconomics and Macroeconomics to B.A. (Honours) Economics.

Course Material Developed for IGNOU

3 Units in 2006 for the new M.A (Economics) course on Financial Economics: Unit 2: Money and Finance; Unit 13: Money and the Economy; Unit 14: Money Creation and Central Banking.

1 Unit in 2005 for the PG economics course on Economics Of Growth And Development titled Introduction to Economic Growth

3 Units in 1998 for the undergraduate course on Indian Economic Development since Independence relating to: a) Distinguishing features of growth and development; b) Indicators of development; and c) Planning in India: Achievements and Failures, Changing Perspective in Planning.

2 Units in 1997 for the course on Macroeconomics relating to: a) Theories of Demand for Money; and b) Inflation and Unemployment: The Phillips Curve.

Other Experience

Chairperson (Economics) at the MDI Gurgaon from 2013 April till 2017 March.

Chairperson (School of Energy Management) from 2010 to 2013.

Area Chairperson (Economics) at the Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon from April 2006-June 2007. As Chairperson launched the FPM program in Economics as independent discipline at MDI. A number of new electives were introduced during this period, bringing in the possibility of students majoring in economics in the near future.

Chairperson (Research) at MDI April 2007-July 2008. During this period, for the first time, we have instituted documentation of the research activity of MDI, to be published annually as “Research@MDI”. This is a first step towards increasing awareness of the wealth of research output of the Institute, allowing for easy dissemination and referencing. The first issue was brought out in February 2008.

Work is in progress to develop inter-linkages with other sister institutions for undertaking major research projects based on the comparative strengths of the institutions and their faculty. Towards this end, research profile of faculty members at MDI is currently being compiled.

Additional Information

Handling of various statistical/econometric packages, like EViews, MicroTSP, Eureka, STATA, MicroFit, MS-EXCEL, ETC.

Co-director of the India program for the prestigious One MBA programme hosted in India for the first time by MDI. This programme brings together more than hundred executives from Multinationals across the world across different continents.

Teaching

1. Macroeconomics Theory & Policy
2. Behavioural Economics
3. Public Finance & Policy
4. Econometric Methods & Demand Forecasting
5. International Economics & Foreign Exchange Markets
6. Infrastructure Economics and Financing

Teaching Experience (20 years)

Currently Professor of Economics at MDI. Joined MDI in April 2004.

Taught courses on Behavioural Economics, Macroeconomic Theory & Policy Infrastructure Economics & Financing, Demand Forecasting, International Economics, Industrial Economics, Microeconomics, Public Finance, and Econometrics courses.

Visiting Faculty at the I.I.M. Kashipur (2019-2020) and IIM Udaipur (2020-21), - Macroeconomics.

Visiting Faculty in 2008-9 at the CFVG, University of Vietnam, HCMC Centre for the course in International Economics.

Visiting Faculty in 2007-8 at the S.P. Jain Institute of Management and Research, Dubai Centre - Microeconomics.

Visiting Faculty for MBE at Department of Business Economics, University of Delhi, South Campus. Subjects: Advanced Microeconomics and Econometrics.

Visiting Faculty for M. Phil. at the Department of Business Economics University of Delhi, South Campus for the Advanced Econometrics.

Taught Macroeconomics, International Economics, and Econometrics at the FORE School of Management, New Delhi, from June 2001-April 2004.

A.R.S.D. College, Delhi University (as Visiting Faculty for academic year 2000-01): Teaching Microeconomics to B.A.(Honours) Economics.

Dyal Singh College, Delhi University (as Visiting Faculty for academic year 1994-95): Taught Microeconomics and Macroeconomics to B.A. (Honours) Economics.

Research Experience (7 years)

• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (October 1999 to May 2001)
• Indian Statistical Institute (Aug. to Oct. 1997): Project on "Interregional Disparities in Growth" with Prof. Dipankar Dasgupta.
• National Institute of Public Finance & Policy (Nov.1995 to July 1997): "Macro model for Indian economy with poverty as an initial constraint"
• Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (from September 1992 to October 1995) Worked on three research projects.

Conference Presentations

• Presented a paper titled “Inflation and openness: A study of selected developing economies”, at the Sixth International Conference on Management held at Wuhan, China, during August 3-5, 2007.
• Presentation on “Environmental Sustainability Issues for India and China” at “Sino-Indian Axis for Business Sustainability through Energy Conservation”, jointly organized by India China Economic and Cultural Council, World Wide Fund for Nature and Rajiv Gandhi Foundation held on 2nd August, 2007 at, Conference Room No.1, 8th Building, Hotel Friendship, Beijing, China.
• Presented a paper titled "Inflation and openness: A study of selected developing economies’ at the ‘Conference on Models and Methods in Economics’ at Indian Statistical Institute (ISIC), Kolkata held (from March 5-7, 2003).
• Presented a paper titled "Inflation and openness: A study of selected developing economies’ at the Fifth Annual Conference on Money and Finance at Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR), Bombay held from January 30 – February 1, 2003.
• Presented a paper titled "Agriculture-Industry Interactions in India: Evidence based on a Multivariate Cointegration and Error-Correction Modeling Approach" at the Conference to honour Prof. K.L.Krishna on ‘Industrialization in a Reforming Economy: A Quantitative Assessment” at Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics held on 20-22 December 2000.
• Presented a paper titled "Discerning Dynamic Causal Chain in Indian Macro Activity: New Empirical Evidence based on a Multivariate Cointegration and Error-Correction Modeling Approach" at the Third Conference on Money and Finance at Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR), Bombay held from November 30 – December 2, 2000.
• Was discussant for a paper presented by Pushpa Trivedi and Abhilash Nair ‘Determinants of FIIs flow to India’ at the Fifth Annual Conference on Money and Finance at Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR), Bombay held from January 30 – February 1, 2003.
• Was discussant for a paper presented by Abhay S Chavan and Rajendra R. Vaidya ‘Financial Liberalisation in India and Bank Lending Channel of Monetary Transmission’ at the Fifth Annual Conference on Money and Finance at Indira Gandhi Institute for Development Research (IGIDR), Bombay held from January 30 – February 1, 2003.
• Was discussant for a paper presented by Kausik Chaudhuri et al on 'Stock Market and Economic Activity: Evidence from Australia' at Third Conference on Money and Finance at IGIDR, Bombay held from November 30 – December 2, 2000.
• Was discussant for a paper presented by Mr. Rajiv Ahuja on 'An Enquiry in Insurance Regulation: The interaction of Investment and Price Regulation' at Third Conference on Money and Finance at IGIDR, Bombay held from November 30 – December 2, 2000.

Consultancy Work

Ministry of Water Resources, Projects on ‘Effectiveness of National Water Mission’ in 2020

Ministry of Water Resources, Projects on ‘Effectiveness of Financing of Infrastructure Development Projects of the Ministry’ in 2020-21.

Ministry of Water Resources, Projects on ‘River Basin Management Projects of the Ministry and their Impact across the Country’ in 2020-21.

For 15th Finance Commission with Prof. Rupamanjari Sinha Ray did a ‘Research Report’ on the topic, “A Study of State Finances of Haryana – A Comparative Analysis” in 2018.

Led a research project in collaboration with Asia Institute, University of Otago, New Zealand, in 2005-6 titled “An Investigation of the Indian Economy to Identify Opportunities for New Zealand Firms in India” (funded by New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, NZTE). Apart from an overview of the policy and economic environment in India, this report provided a detailed focus on the following sectors with blue sky projections for the next 15 years. Information technology, Biotechnology, Agriculture and Food Processing, Wine, Dairy, Wood and wood products

This report was presented in a series of seminars in New Zealand during June 2006. The project was sponsored by NZTE, New Zealand Government. The Research Report is available at http://www.commerce.otago.ac.nz/mgmt/ai/INDIA.pdf

Prepared 3 background papers for “Towards an Employment Oriented Export Strategy: Some Explorations”, a report prepared by Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries, 2006.

Encouraging Export Oriented Employment Through Policy: A Note

Indian Gems and Jewellery Industry: Export and Employment Issues

The Indian Leather Industry: Export and Employment Link

Wrote a background paper on “Agriculture Subsidy: Case of Fertilizers Experience across Countries”, as input for a Report on Fertiliser Subsidies. This was a report of a sub-committee constituted by Planning Commission on International Practices in Production, Distribution and Consumption of Fertiliser, in 2006.

Prepared a background research paper on “Line of Credit and Exports”, for Research and Information Systems for Developing Countries (under Ministry of External Affairs) , IHC, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, in 2006.