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Kaushik BasuIndian Economist
Date of Birth: 09.01.1952
Country:  India |
Content:
- Kaushik Basu: A Pioneer in Economics
- Academic Career
- Research Contributions
- Institutional Contributions
- Other Endeavors
- Recognition and Honors
Kaushik Basu: A Pioneer in Economics
Early Life and EducationKaushik Basu was born on January 9, 1952, in Kolkata, India. He began his education at St. Xavier's Collegiate School before enrolling in the prestigious St. Stephen's College in Delhi for his undergraduate studies in economics. After graduating, he pursued a Master's degree (1974) and a Ph.D. (1976) from the London School of Economics.
Academic Career
Basu has held faculty positions at Cornell University, where he is a Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics and directs the Comparative Economics Development Program. He has also been a visiting scholar at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, CORE in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, and the London School of Economics. Additionally, he has been a visiting professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University, and Princeton University.
Research Contributions
Basu's research spans a diverse range of economic fields, including development economics, game theory, industrial organization, political economy, and the economics of child labor. He has published extensively in top academic journals and authored several books, including "Analytical Development Economics" and "Prelude to Political Economy."
Institutional Contributions
In 1992, Basu founded the Centre for Development Economics at the Delhi School of Economics, where he served as its first Executive Director until 1996. He is also an editor of the "Oxford Companion to Economics: India" and "World Bank Economic Review."
Other Endeavors
Beyond his academic pursuits, Basu is an active commentator on economic issues for various publications, including BBC News Online, Hindustan Times, and Business Standard. He has also written a play entitled "Crossings at Benaras Junction" and invented a two-player board game called Dui-doku.
Recognition and Honors
Basu's contributions to economics have been widely recognized. He is a Fellow of the Econometric Society and a recipient of the Mahalanobis Memorial Medal. In 2008, the Government of India awarded him the Padma Bhushan, one of the highest civilian awards in the country.
