Ishan Kashyap Hazarika

Hi! I am Ishan. I am an economics enthusiast, particularly interested in practically building mechanisms for distribution (auction vs rationing) of goods and services. I am particularly fascinated by the use of computational methods and algorithmic thinking in answering these questions. This naturally leads to an interest in related questions that arise in the fields of psychometric measurement scales, econometric techniques of preference recovery, social choice/ game theoretic questions of efficiency and fairness, and behavioural biases, which are crucial in the design of distribution mechanisms, and thinking about them computationally.

I have an MA degree in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics and a BA (Honours) Economics degree from Hansraj College, University of Delhi.

I have worked extensively on computational methods, including the development of multiple algorithms for distribution, social network analysis, solving game theoretic models and conducting market experiments. My past works also include applications of psychometric techniques such as factor analysis and SEM, and standard causal inference techniques.

Research Experience

Research Assistant to Dr. Rohini Somanathan (Delhi School of Economics)

• Worked on a wide range of projects on topics from caste and gender to vaccine procurements.

• Helped in econometric analysis, and development of simulations to form hypotheses.

• Developed algorithms to clean data more efficiently, using social network techniques

• Developed an algorithm to efficiently and fairly allocate optional courses to students

Research Intern to Dr. Badrinarayanan Gopalakrishnan (InfiSum Modelling Inc. and University of Washington (Seattle))

• Worked on Computable General Equilibrium Models of trade in the ASEAN and in the Commonwealth post-Brexit

• Prepared a report on agro-services liberalisation internally, drawing lessons for its possibility in India

• Developed a market experiment platform from scratch, using Python and JavaScript

Research Assistant at the MHFDC, Hansraj College and NMTT, Government of India

• Designed survey instruments for assessing teaching environment and statistically validated them

• Developed a Structural Equation Model of teacher learning, understanding the role of psychological variables on performance

• Co-authored a paper on the performance of teacher training programmes under the NMTT, Government of India

Student Researcher at the Financial and Economic Research Cell, Hansraj College, University of Delhi

• Developed experiments to measure behavioural biases (Halo effect, Barnum-Forer effect) in political decision making

• Developed a mathematical model of affirmative action in the allocation of jobs and seats in educational institutions

• Co-authored multiple papers on behavioural political economy and one in transportation economics

Publications

Peer-reviewed Journal Publications

1. Hazarika, I. K. & Yadav, A. (2024). Returns from herding as a function of the social network of agents: a simulation study. Journal of Economic and Administrative Sciences.  Link.

2. Hazarika, I.K., Yadav, A., Chhabra, S. & Singh, S. (2024). ICT Development Index and Its Role in the FDI-Growth Nexus: Evidence from G20 Economies. Statistika: Statistics Economy Journal, 104(3): 336-346. Link.

3. Hazarika, I. K. & Yadav, A. (2023). The construction of a new index of financial inclusion: An application of the principle of maximum ignorance. Forthcoming in Arthaniti: The Journal of Economic Theory and Practice. Link.

4. Rama, Bhola, J., Yadav, A., Hazarika, I. K., & Rai, S. (2022). A structural model of teacher learning, satisfaction, attitude and confidence in Faculty Development Programmes. Vision. https://doi.org/10.1177/09722629221107229

5. Yadav, A., Yadav, D. & Hazarika, I. K. (2022). A new conceptualization of investor sophistication and its impact on herding and overconfidence bias. Investment Management and Financial Innovations, 19(2), 67-80. https://doi.org/10.1177/09722629221107229 

6. Hazarika, I. K. and Rai, S. (2020). Modelling producer behaviour in fixed-route private transport services. Indian Journal of Economics and Development. 8(3), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.17485/IJED/v8.18 

7. Hazarika, I. K., Rai, S and Yadav, M. (2020). A probabilistic evaluation of the argument of correction in affirmative action. Indian Journal of Economics and Development. 8(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.17485/IJED/v8.26 

8. Hazarika, I. K. and Rai, S. (2020). An investigation of beliefs, information and the Halo effect in electoral decision making. Asian Review of Social Sciences. 9(1), 27-33. https://ojs.trp.org.in/index.php/arss/article/view/1610 

9. Hazarika, I. K, Rai, S. and Verma, A. (2020). Political choices of the Left and the Right in crises: An experimental investigation. Asian Review of Social Sciences. 9(2). https://ojs.trp.org.in/index.php/arss/article/view/2807 

Conferences

1. Hazarika, I. K. (2020). An analysis of the pricing decisions of sellers in the private passenger road transport industry. Towards Equilibrium: Proceedings of the N. C. Ray Memorial Research Presentation, St. Stephen's College 

Book Chapters

1. Yadav, A., Gupta, G., Hazarika, I. K., Yadav, M. & Dholakia, S. (2022). TSMC: Macro-potential of microchip manufacturing. In Kim, C. K & Lee, M. How Asian brands soar 7: Lessons from world’s top 10 Asian cases. Seoul: Asian Academy of Business. https://www.amazon.com/mybook/

General articles

1. Hazarika, I. K. & Gupta, G. (2021). Markets and all that. FERC Articles. https://ferchansraj.org/  

2. Hazarika, I. K. (2021). Do liberals value efficiency? Sen’s paradox. FERC Articles. https://ferchansraj.org/ 

3. Hazarika, I. K. (2021). Jewellery, Microeconomics, Macroeconomics and Econometrics. FERC Articles. https://ferchansraj.org/ 

4. Hazarika, I. K. & Gopalakrishnan, B. (2020). Post Abraham accord, UAE finds itself in India’s shoes. The Daily Guardian. https://thedailyguardian.com/post-abraham-accord-uae-finds-itself-in-indias-shoes/ 

5. Hazarika, I. K. (2020). Seventy six rupees and 6500 crores: Cooperative banking in India. Okonomos 18: 52-56. See https://theokonomos.com/20/

6. Hazarika, I. K. (2019). The answer: A farmer on a real issue. Okonomos 17: 52-56. See https://theokonomos.com/19/

7. Hazarika, I. K. (2019). The answer. Okonomos 17: 60-62. See https://theokonomos.com/19/