Economic development dynamo Professor Shyamal Chowdhury joins the Crawford School

Professor Shyamal Chowdhury has been appointed as the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy's Rajiv Gandhi Chair of South Asian Economics at the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics and Director of the Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC).

“It’s excellent to start 2025 with Professor Chowdhury joining for his new appointment”, says Professor Paul Burke, Deputy Director of the Crawford School.

“ASARC has a proud history of research on the economies and societies of the South Asia region, and is well placed for a new chapter under Professor Chowdhury's leadership”, says Professor Burke.

Professor Chowdhury brings substantial expertise in economic development to his new role at ANU. He joins the Crawford School from his previous position as Professor of Economics at the University of Sydney. 

His primary research focus is on the economics of seasonal migration, the development of non-cognitive skills in children, microfinance, and technology adoption. He has conducted research in a diverse range of developing economies, including Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Uganda, and Kenya. 

His key motivation for joining the Crawford School, says Professor Chowdhury, is that he is “deeply passionate about policy engagement and making a tangible impact”.

His new role at the Crawford School puts him in the driver’s seat, he notes:

“Crawford has been a true leader in shaping public policy and driving meaningful change across Asia and the Pacific”.

“Taking on the role of leading ASARC provides me with an incredible opportunity to actively influence public policies through research, particularly in South Asia—an area I deeply value and am committed to”, he explains.

Professor Chowdhury says the ASARC will enhance the relationship between Australia and South Asia in several critical areas under his leadership.

“Firstly, the centre will undertake rigorous research on both immediate and long-term challenges that the region has been grappling with, which will help improve Australia's understanding of the South Asian economies”, he affirms.

“Secondly, the centre will deepen research collaborations between Australian and South Asian researchers, research institutions, think tanks, NGOs, and government agencies, contributing to evidence-based policy formulation and economic development in South Asia”, Professor Chowdhury continues. 

“Thirdly, the centre will engage young and aspiring members of the ever-growing Indian and other South Asian communities in Australia through regular events such as policy dialogues. Moreover, the centre will aim to become a leading research centre and an important national resource that provides rigorous analysis of economic issues concerning South Asia and their implications for Australia”, he concludes.

Professor Chowdhury began his academic career with a BSc (Hons.) in Economics from Jahangirnagar University, Dhaka. He then gained an MA in Economics from the University of Kiel, followed by a PhD in Agricultural Economics from Bonn University.

After completing his PhD, he was appointed a postdoctoral fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, DC. He subsequently worked as a consultant for the World Bank, also in Washington, before moving to the University of Sydney.

He has published in leading economics journals, including Econometrica, the Journal of Political Economy, the Journal of Public Economics, the Journal of Development Economics, and the American Journal of Agricultural Economics, and has served as a referee for papers on economic development for these journals and more across the field.

Professor Chowdhury formerly co-edited The Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, and is currently Secretary of the Australasian Development Economics Association (ADEA) and a Research Fellow at the Institute of Labor Economics (IZA), Germany.

We warmly welcome Professor Chowdhury to the Crawford School community. The expertise and vision he brings will be invaluable to our continued success as the leading public policy school in the Asia-Pacific region.