I am a Research Fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies at the European University Institute. From August 2026, I will join the Robert Schuman Centre as an Assistant Professor.

My research examines how economic integration shapes welfare in developing countries, and at what cost. Trade connects markets and moves goods across borders, but it can also transmit pathogens, policy distortions, and spillovers that national governments cannot address alone. I study these questions using microdata and quasi-experimental methods, with the aim of identifying mechanisms that are relevant for both economic theory and public policy.

A second strand of my research focuses on topics related to political economy, with particular emphasis on religious competition and inter-ethnic relations in South Asia over the long run.

I hold a Ph.D. from the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, where my dissertation received the Alumni Association Prize for the best thesis in Development Economics (2017–2023). 

I currently serve as an Associate Editor of the Journal of Economics, Management and Religion.

For an overview of my work have a look at my CV, Google Scholar page, and a Podcast on the Ideas of India.

Email: rohit.ticku@eui.eu