Research and Publications

Research Focus

Macroeconomic policies and health

Impact evaluation of public policies and development programs

Universal healthcare coverage and health policies

Select Publications

Krishnatri V and Vellakkal S. Does Alcohol Prohibition Improve Caloric and Macronutrient Intake from Healthy Food Sources? Evidence From Bihar, India. Agricultural Economics (Wiley). Volume 57, Issue 1 (2026): e70090. https://doi.org/10.1111/agec.70090

Dar S and Vellakkal S. Usage and Health Impact of Toilets: Evidence from a Nationwide Sanitation Program in India. Economic Analysis and Policy (Elsevier). Volume 88, December 2025, Pages 1652-1669. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eap.2025.10.048

Krishnatri V and Vellakkal S. Does affordable Internet promote maternal and child healthcare access? Evidence from a post-telecommunication market disruption period in India. Telecommunications Policy (Elsevier). Volume 48, Issue 10, November 2024, 102872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.telpol.2024.102872

Acharya A, Vellakkal S, Taylor F, Masset E, Satija A, Burke M, Ebrahim S. The Impact of Health Insurance Schemes for the Informal Sector in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review. World Bank Research Observer (Oxford Journals). Volume 28 (2), 236-266. doi: 10.1093/wbro/lks009.

E Aurino, J Fledderjohann, Vellakkal S. Inequalities in adolescent learning: Does the timing and persistence of food insecurity at home matter? Economics of Education Review (Elsevier). Volume 70, June 2019, Pages 94-108.   doi: j.econedurev.2019.03.003.

A Singh & Vellakkal S. Impact of public health programs on maternal and child health services and health outcomes in India: A systematic review.               Social Science & Medicine (Elsevier). Volume 274, April 2021, 113795, ISSN 0277-9536, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2021.113795. 

Vellakkal S, Khan Z, Alavani H, J Fledderjohann, Stuckler D (2022): Effects of public policies in preventing cardiovascular diseases. Public Health (Elsevier).  Volume 207, June 2022, Pages 73-81. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2022.03.021

         Vellakkal S, Gupta A, Khan Z, Stuckler D, Reeves A, Ebrahim S, Bowling A, Doyle P . Has India’s National Rural Health Mission reduced inequities in maternal health services? A pre-post repeated cross sectional study. Health Policy and Planning (Oxford Journals). Volume 32 (1), 79-90. doi: 10.1093/heapol/czw100.

         Vellakkal S, Fledderjohann J, Basu S, Agrawal S, Ebrahim S, Campbell O, Doyle P, Stuckler D. Food price spikes are associated with increased malnutrition among children in Andhra Pradesh, India. The Journal of Nutrition (Elsevier).  Volume 145 (8), 1942-1949. doi:10.3945/jn.115.211250. 

Sassi F, Belloni A, Mirelman A, Suhrcke M, Thomas A, Salti N, Vellakkal S, Visaruthvong C, Popkin BM, Nugent R . Equity impacts of price policies to promote healthy behaviours. The Lancet (Elsevier). Volume  391, Issue 10134, P2059-2070 DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(18)30531-2

Vellakkal S, Millett C, Basu S, Khan Z, Aitsi-Selmi A, Stuckler D, Ebrahim S. Are Estimates of Socioeconomic Inequalities in Chronic Disease Artefactually Narrowed by Self-Reported Measures of Prevalence in Low-and Middle-Income Countries? Findings from WHO-SAGE Survey. Journal Ep. Comm. Health (BMJ). Volume 69. PP:218 225. doi: 10.1136/jech-2014-204621

Basu S, Vellakkal S, Agrawal S, Stuckler D, Popkin B, Ebrahim S . Averting Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in India through Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Taxation: An Economic-Epidemiologic Modelling Study. PLoS Med(Public Library of Science USA). 11(1):e1001582. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001582

         Vellakkal S, Ebrahim S. Publicly-Financed Health Insurance Schemes: Concerns about Impact Assessment, Economic & Political Weekly, January 5, 2013 vol xlviIi (1)

Full List of publications at Google scholar: Google Scholar-Sukumar Vellakkal