Curriculum Vitae

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Education

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo (2023-24)

Ph.D. in Development Economics, "Essays on Migration, Conflict and Human Capital Development: Evidence from Nepal", National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) , 2017. Committee: Ryuichi Tanaka (Main Referee), Chikako Yamauchi and Roberto Leon Gonzalez

M.A in Development Economics, National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS),  Japan, 2014

M.Phil. Economics (with Distinction), Tribhuvan University, Nepal, 2011

M.A. Economics (with Gold Medal), Tribhuvan University, 2005.

Employment

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Institute of Social Science, The University of Tokyo (2023-24)

Visiting Faculty: Ph.D. and MPhil Program, Tribhuvan University.  I teach Public Economics and Development Economics. Previously, I taught Cost-Benefit Analysis. I supervise MPhil and Ph.D. dissertations.  

Associate Professor, Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University. (Jan 2022 to date)

Lecturer (MA Program). Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University. I teach Mathematical Economics and Development Economics. (January 2012 to December 2021)

Teaching Assistant (MA Program) Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University. I taught Mathematical Economics, Public Economics, Development Economics and Nepalese Economics. (2008-2012)

Publications

"Does Men's Out-migration Affect Women's Participation in Community Forest of Nepal?". (With Narayan Prasad Gautam and others) FORMATH Vol. 22 (2023)

"Nepal's community forestry: Critical reflection from the governance perspective" (With Narayan Prasad Gautam and others) Scandinavian Journal of Forestry Research. 2023

Monitoring Health Service Delivery: Evidence from Civil Conflict in Nepal" (With Ryuichi Tanaka) World Development. 146 (2021), 1055433

An Assessment of Livelihood Recovery Status of Earthquake-affected Households in Nepal: A study of Coping Strategies and their Effectiveness. Progress in Disaster Science. 2021, 9 (2021) 100147

Determinants of Poverty, Self-reported Shocks and Coping Strategies: Evidence from Rural Nepal. (joint with Narayan Prasad Gautam, Bir Bahadur Khanal Chhetri, Nirjala Raut, Muhammad Haroon U. Rashid, Xiangqing Ma, Pengfei Wu). Sustainability. 2021, 13(4), 1790

'Do earthquakes change the timber and firewood use pattern of the forest dependent households? Evidence from rural hills in Nepal'. (joint with Narayan Prasad Gautam, Taim ur Hassan Farooq, Penfei Wu and others). Forest Policy and Economics. Vol 119 (102283), 2020 

“Parental Absence, Remittances and Educational Investment of Children Left Behind: Evidence from Nepal” in Review of Development Economics 2018, 22(4) with Ryuichi Tanaka.

 Peer-reviewed National Journals

Natural Disaster and Child’s Health: Empirical Evidence from Nepal’s Earthquake (Forthcoming in the Economic Journal of Nepal) (Preprint available here) 

"Nonlinear Impact of Inflation on Economic Growth in Nepal: A Smooth Transition Regression Approach" in Nepal Public Policy Review. 2022 (2). With Hari Prasad Paudel

Impact of 2015 Earthquake on Educational Attainment of Children in Nepal. Quest Journal of Management and Social Sciences. 2022.  4(1), 1-16

"An assessment of the Macroeconomic Implications of COVID-19 in Nepal: Evidence from SIR-Macro Model Analysis" in The Economic Journal of Nepal. 2021, 44 (1 & 2). With Khagendra Katuwal, Manab Prakash, Naveen Adhikari, and Shiva Raj Adhikari

"A Framework for Assessing Socio-economic Impact of COVID-19 at Household Level" in Tribhuvan University Journal.  Vol 34 2020: COVID-19 Special Issue. With Khagendra Katuwal and Naveen Adhikari

“Setting Minimum Wages for Nepal: A Need-Based Approach” in the Economic Journal of Nepal. 2019, 42

“An Estimation of Technical Efficiency of Poultry Farm Industry in Nepal” in the Economic Journal of Development Issues 2019, 17 & 18 (1-2) (With Nripesh Bahadur Pradhan)

“An Inquiry into Child Health and its Determinants in Nepal: Application of Ordered Probit Model” in the Economic Journal of Nepal. 2018 (With Subodh Kumar Sah Karmayogi)

"Measurement of Underground Economy in Nepal: A Currency Demand Approach" in the Economic Journal of Development Issues 2014, 17 & 18 (1-2) with Namuna Chalise and Puja Thapa

"Why Low Adult Immunization? An Enquiry into the case of Hepatitis B Vaccine in Peri-Urban Areas of Kathmandu Valley" in The Economic Journal of Nepal 2013, 36(3-4) with Devendra Prasad Shrestha

"Causes and Impact of Privatization in Nepal: A Theoretical Review”  in The Banking Journal 2012, 2(2), 1-22

“Organic Farming of Fruits and Vegetables in Nepal: A Cost Benefit Analysis” in The Economic Journal of Nepal 2009, 32(3), 146-159.

Working papers

"Citizen’s Participation in Social Accountability Initiatives and its Effects on Public Service Delivery in Nepal" (Working paper available here)

"Energy-Related Financial Literacy and Fuel Efficiency: Evidence from Motorcycles in Nepal"  (With Naveen Adhikari, Massimo Filippini, Nilkanth Kumar, and Suchita Srinivasan) 

"Herding behavior in the choice of motorcycles: Evidence from Nepal" (With Nilkanth Kumar and Suchita Srinivasan). Economics Working Paper Series, No. 22/366 

"Size of Informal Economy in Nepal". CEDECONTU RPT No. 1

"A review of the economic impact of COVID-19 and Economic Policies in Nepal". MPRA Paper No. 102778

Revised, Submitted, and Resubmitted Papers

"Citizen’s Participation in Social Accountability Initiatives and its Effects on Public Service Delivery in Nepal" (Working paper available here)

“Analyzing the inequality in healthcare utilization and health expenditure: empirical evidence from free healthcare policy initiative in Nepal” (With Ryuichi Tanaka)

"Cost Benefit Analysis of Silviculture based Forest Management in Nepal " (with Keshava Prasad Aryal)

"Cognitive skills, energy-related financial literacy, and fuel efficiency: Evidence from motorbikes in Kathmandu Valley" (With Naveen Adhikari, Massimo Filippini, Nilkanth Kumar, and Suchita Srinivasan)

Work in Progress

Are grandparents blessings in disguise? Evidence from unconditional cash transfer and educational investment in Nepal (with Ryuichi Tanaka and Neesha Thapa)

COVID-19, Remittances and Household Welfare: Evidence from Nepal (With Kapil Pokhrel)

Principal-agent problems in the purchase of household durables: Evidence from Nepal (With Massimo Filippini and Suchita Srinivasan)

Elders lose and younger gain in education: Evidence from war episode in Nepal (with Naveen Adhikari and Khagendra Katuwal).

Do access to technology improve students' test scores? A gender and caste-based evidence from School Leaving Certificate Exam in Nepal. (Preliminary work here)

Books and Book Chapters

“Unemployment: Determinants, constraints and policy choices”, in B.P. Pyakurel’s ‘Nepal’s Development Tragedy: Threat and Possibilities’. Fine Print Kathmandu, 2013

“State Restructuring and Fiscal Federalism in Nepal: Issues on Economic Viability” (With Baburam Karki) in B.P. Pyakurel’s ‘Nepal’s Development Tragedy: Threat and Possibilities’. Fine Print Kathmandu, 2013

“A Study on Socioeconomic status of Indigenous People in Nepal”, LAHURNIP and IWGA (With Chaitanya Subba, Bishwambher Pyakuryal,   Tunga Shiromani Bastola, Mohan Khajum Subba and Baburam Karki), 2012

 “Social Security/Social Protection in Nepal: A Situational Analysis”, ILO, Kathmandu. (with Dilli Raj Khanal), 2010

Current Research Works

Center for Energy Policy and Economics (CEPE), ETH Zurich and Central Department of Economics: Co-Researcher (Jan 2021 onward):  Barriers towards the adoption of energy-efficient vehicles in Nepal and the role of behavioral biases (with Massimo Filippini, Nilkanth Kumar, and Suchita Srinivasan).

Foundation for a Smoke-Free World: Technical expert (March 2023 to date): The economics of tobacco harm reduction in Nepal: Examining consumer preferences and policy and regulatory environment. Prakriti Pragya Nepal, Kathmandu

Tribhuvan University Research Centre: Co-Principal Investigator (March 2023 to date): An economic inquiry into the fiscal-management practices in subnational governments of Nepal (With Resham Thapa-Parajuli, PI & Uttam Babu Shrestha, Co-PI). Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University

Recently Completed Research Works

South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics and Central Department of Economics: Principal Investigator (March 2019 to Nov 30, 2022): Natural Disaster and Assets Recovery: Empirical Evidence from Nepal’s Earthquake

University Grants Commission and Central Department of Economics: Principal Investigator (January 2019 to February 2021): Impact of natural disaster on human capital: An empirical evidence using Nepal’s earthquake as a natural experiment.

Prior Research Employment

JICA Research Centre/University of Tokyo/National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies: Research Assistant (2014-2016). Tokyo, Japan. My key duties involved cleaning and analyzing large Japanese industrial data set and Tajikistan Living Standard Survey using statistical package Stata as instructed by the Research Supervisor.

IPRAD (Institute for Policy Research and Development), Kathmandu: Research Associate (2010). “Rules of Origin and Their Impact on Nepal's Exports: A Case Study of Tea, Carpets, Pashmina and Handicraft Products”. Funded by UNESCAP Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade (ARTNet). My key duties involved doing literature Review and preparation of Background papers.

IPRAD (Institute for Policy Research and Development), Kathmandu: Research Associate (2009) “Democratic Ownership and Mutual Accountability of Foreign Aid in Nepal: With Special Reference to Health Sector” Funded by CARE Nepal. My key duties included: Literature Review; Field Visit: in depth Interview at national and district level, FGDs and KII at community level; Data Analysis: conducted Content Analysis; and Report writing

Water Aid, Kathmandu: Researcher (2008) Money down the Pan? Community Level Models for Financing Sanitation in Rural Nepal: A Sector Review, Water Aid and ADB. The Project was funded by Asian Development Bank. I assisted in questionnaire design, data collection and preparation of field reports of each site visited.

Research Grants (Competitive)

Foundation for a Smoke-Free World (2023-2024)

Tribhuvan University Research Centre (2023-2025)

Swiss National Science Foundation (2021-24);

University Grants Commission (2020-2021)

University Grants Commission (2019/21);

South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (2019/21);

University Grants Commission (2011/12);

Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2016)

Theses Supervision

Masters Level (30+ completed);

MPhil Level:

“Impact of Mergers and Acquisitions on Financial Performance of Commercial Banks of Nepal” by Niranjan Basnet (Completed)

“An Assessment of Silviculture System Based Forest Management in Kapilvastu and Rupandehi Districts: A Cost Benefit Analysis” by Keshav Prasad Aryal (Completed)

“A Review of Economic Valuation of Environmental amenity: A Case Study of Jakhera Lake” by Sudhir Kumar Adhikari (Ongoing)

Ph.D. Level: 

“Agricultural Credit in Nepal: Productivity, Determinants, and Interest Subsidy” by Shyam Sundar Gautam (Main Supervisor: Ongoing)

“The Relationship between Unemployment and Economic Growth in Nepal” by Sharda Prasad Bhattarai (Main Supervisor: Ongoing)

“A Comparative Study of Spatio-Temporal Change and Geo-economic Relation of Nepal, China, and India” by Govinda Raj K.C. (Co-supervisor: Ongoing)

“Determinants of Digital Divide in Lalitpur district” by Umesh Khatri (Co-supervisor: Ongoing)

"An Empirical Analysis on the impact of industrial effluents on cropping pattern of farmers in Tiripur District of Tamil Nadu." by N. Kavitha (External Examiner: Bharathiar University, Tamil Nadu, India) 

"A STUDY OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS AND LIVELIHOOD CHALLENGES OF THE WOMEN HEADED FAMILIES IN MULLAITIVU DISTRICT OF SRI LANKA DURING THE POST-2010 PERIOD". by  G.Gnanachandran (External Examiner: Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India) 

Conference, Seminar, Lectures, and Workshop Presentations/Keynote/Invited Speaker/Attendance

SBCA 2024 Annual Conference. March 17-19, 2024. Society for Benefit-Cost Analysis. George Washington University, Washington DC

CESLAM Kathmandu Migration Conference 2024. Feb 15-16, 2024. Center for the Study of Labour and Mobility, Kathmandu (Online presentation with Kapil Pokhrel)

Workshop on Migration & Health: Perspectives from South Asia. Oct 12-13, 2023. The University of Washington (Online presentation with Kapil Pokhrel)

Resource person. July 13, 2023. Faculty Development Programme. Fostering the Discipline: An exploration into multifaceted research approaches in Economics. Hansaraj College, University of Delhi.

SANEM-World Bank Discussion Forum. May 5, 2023. World Bank Headquarters, Washington D.C. 

Resource Person. Oct 9-14, 2022. A Block course in Energy Economics and Policy. Jointly organized by the Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University (CEDECONTU) & Centre for Energy Policy and Economics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH, Zurich). Kathmandu. 

NRB Research Meet. Sep 12, 2022. Nepal Rastra Bank - Central Bank of Nepal, Kathmandu (Invited Speaker)

Congress of the Asian Association of Environmental and Resource Economics. August 19-20 2022. Ho-Chi Minh City, Vietnam (Online presentation)

Annual Conference of the European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, June 28-August 1 2022. Rimini, Italy (In-person Attendance)

Himalayan Policy Research Conference (HPRC), December 4-5 2021, Nepal Study Centre, University of New Mexico, USA (Paper presenter: online conference)

Brown Bag Seminar. Himalayan Applied Economics and Policy Association HAEPA (The US-based Nepalese Economists Association). June 26, 2021 (Invited Speaker: online mode)

6th International Conference on World Economy Post COVID Reset: Gains, Pains, and Way Forward, March 5, 2021, Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda College, Chennai (Invited Speaker: online conference) 

National Symposium on Nepal's Reconstruction, August 24-27 2020, Web-Based seminar, Kathmandu

3rd International Conference on Economics and Finance, Feb 28-29 2020, Kathmandu (With Manab Prakash Poudel)

5th SANEM Annual Economists' Conference (SAEC), Feb 1-2 2020, Dhaka. 

Lunch Seminar at Center for Energy Policy and Economics, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, October 10, 2019, Zurich

13th International Conference on Crisis and Emergency Management, September 25-26 2019, Kathmandu

Evidence for Policy Design (EPoD) India and the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), with support from the Initiative for What Works to Advance Gender Equality (IWWAGE), "Summer Workshop on India's Women, Work and Development", July 25-26 2019, New Delhi (Invited Resource Person)

Graduate School of Business and Economics, Golden Gate International College, Invited Speaker, July 14 2019, Kathmandu

National Conference on Role of Management in Economic Development, Keynote Speaker, June 14-15 2019, Bhaktapur.

South Asia Economic Development Conference, February 2019, New Delhi, India

International Conference on Family Planning, November 2018, Kigali, Rwanda

Annual Kathmandu Conference on Nepal and the Himalaya, July 2018, Kathmandu

Fourth National Summit of Health and Population Scientists, April 2018, Kathmandu 

6th GRIPS Student Conference, September 2017, GRIPS, Japan

Western Economic Association International (WEAI) , June 2017, San Diego, USA 

Emerging State Project (ESP) Young Scholars’ Program Workshop, June 2017, GRIPS

International Institute of Public Finance (IIPF), May 2017, CESifo Institute, Munich, Germany

The Osaka Workshop on Economics of Institutions and Organization (OEIO), March 2017, University of Tokyo

Policy Analysis Research (PAR) Workshop, January 2017, GRIPS, Tokyo

Himalayan Policy Research Conference (HPRC) , October 2016, University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

1st Asian Researchers’ Symposium (ARS),  April 2016, Universitas Indonesia, Indonesia

4th GRIPS Student Conference, September 2015, GRIPS, Japan

NEAJ Workshop, January 2015, University of Tokyo, Japan

SAESM 2011, New Delhi, India

Selected Research and Consultancy Experience

South Asian Network for Development and Environmental Economics (SANDEE)-ICIMOD: Consultant-Senior Economist (Sep 2023 to date): “Assessment of the investment landscape relevant to air quality related sectors."

Scott-Wilson Nepal: Economist (May 2022 to May 2023): Impact Study of Trail Bridge Program in Nepal. Helvetas Nepal

National Planning Commission:  Social Sector Lead (January 2022 to June 2022): Appraisal of the Fifteenth Plan (2076/77-2080/81). Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University

World Bank: Senior Survey Data Consultant (January 2022 to December 2022): Social Protection, Poverty, and Urbanization. 

Nepal Rastra Bank: Economist (January 2022 to December 2022): A Study of Informal Economy in Nepal. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University.

University Grants Commission: Senior Researcher (December 2020 to date): Evaluating synergies and tradeoffs among health, education, and economic sectors in the fight against the COVID-19 in Nepal: Evidence and policy responses. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University 

United Nations Development Programme: Sector Lead -Health and Education (October 2020-December 2020): Understanding Implications of Covid-19 on Human Development: Extrapolations from Recent Household Surveys of Nepal. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University.

Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies: Economist (October 2020 to December 2020): The Impacts of COVID-19 on Trade Sector and on LDC Graduation of Nepal. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University.

Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies: Economist (January 2020 to March 2020): Nepal's Position on WTO Reform and Strategies to take advantage as a WTO member. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University.

Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security: Labour Economist (January 2020 to June 2020): A study on foreign employment trends in Nepal. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University.

National Reconstruction Authority and Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal: Lead Economist (December 2019): Impact of Post-Earthquake Reconstruction on Nepalese Economy. Supported by National Democratic Institute/USAID.

United Nations Population Fund: Economist (April 2019 to date): Prevalence and Living Conditions of Peoples with Disability in Sudurpaschim Province of Nepal. 

Helvetas-Swiss Intercooperation, Safer Migration Project (SAMi): Consultant (2018): Effectiveness of Financial Literacy Program: Insights from Follow-up Survey.  Sodhashala: Center for Research and Policy Studies

National Planning Commission:  Sector Lead (2018): Appraisal of the Fourteenth Plan (2073/74-2075/76). Sectoral Development Policy: Agriculture, Industry, Economic Diplomacy, and Social Development. Central Department of Economics, Tribhuvan University

Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB), Kathmandu: Team Leader (2012) Socioeconomic Assessment for Lift Schemes, Batch IX, Development Phase. The project was funded by the World Bank. 

Center for Inclusive Growth: Consultant (2012). Nepalese Perspective to inclusive Growth. Funded by DFID.

Lawyer's Association for Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples in Nepal. Researcher (2012). Assessing the situation of indigenous People in Nepal using Nepal Living Standard Survey 2011/12. Funded by International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs.

International Labor Organization: Economist (2010). Status of Social Security and Protection in Nepal. 

Water Resource Consult, Lalitpur: Economist (2010) Cost-Benefit Analysis of Pancheswar Multipurpose Project

Rural Development Associate, Lalitpur: Consultant (2009) Organization Development of local bodies. Funded by the Ministry of Local Development, Nepal.  

Engineers’ and Trainers’ Associate (ETA Consult), Kathmandu: Social Scientist (2005) Monitoring and Evaluation of Batch IV development Phase. Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board and funded by the World Bank.