My schooling took place in La Martiniere for Boys and St. Lawrence High School. After completing my graduation from Presidency College in 1989 with Honours in Economics, I enrolled in Calcutta University in the M.Sc. programme in Economics, where I secured Second position in the Merit list. Subsequently, I completed my Ph.D. from Calcutta University in 2003 in Environmental Economics.
I have been actively engaged in UG teaching (since 1994) and in PG teaching (since 1998). In the last ten years, I have offered courses in Econometrics (Theory and Laboratory), Microeconomics, Advanced Economic Theory, General Equilibrium, Health Economics & Policy, Macroeconomics and Environmental Economics.
I was also actively associated with the public policy domain, serving in the Prime Minister’s High Level Committee chaired by Justice Rajinder Sachar, and as a Member of the State Planning Board, West Bengal (2007-2011). In 2012, I prepared a background paper on Social Justice as part of NCAER’s ex
EDUCATION
1989: B.Sc. (Economics Major) Presidency College
1991: M.Sc. (Economics) Calcutta University
2003: Ph.D. Calcutta University (Attitudes and Institutions: Sustaining the commons)
RESEARCH, TEACHING, or OTHER INTERESTS
Economics and Econometrics, Health (social science), Gender Studies, Social Sciences
“Cruel Fathers,” Assortative Matching and Spousal Violence: Does Witnessing Spousal Violence as a Child Increase the Chances of Adult Victimhood? Richa Kothari, Zakir Husain, Diganta Mukherjee Violence Against Women, 2026 The association between witnessing spousal violence (SV) as a child and the increased adult victimization is well-established, and explained in terms of neural adaptation. But establishing causation requires addressing issues of underreporting of both witnessing and facing violence, and endogeneity due to confounding variables. Moreover, the role of social pathways like nonrandom selection of partners also needs to be analyzed. Using India's Demographic Health Survey data (2019–2021), an endogenous treatment effects model is estimated allowing for different levels of predicted underreporting. Witnessing violence increases the chances of subsequent exposure to SV by 39–70% and may be explained in terms of assortative matching.
Social Dimensions of Human Development: Trends of Union Dissolution in India Ankita Rajgarhia, Zakir Husain, Mousumi Dutta Changing Dimensions in Economic Development Theories and Empirics, 2026 Union dissolution, encompassing divorce and separation, is an integral aspect of social transformation, reflecting shifts in societal norms, gender roles, economic independence, and legal frameworks. In India, while marriage has traditionally been seen as a lifelong commitment, increasing urbanisation, economic independence of women, and legal reforms have contributed to shifting perceptions of marriage, leading to greater acceptance of dissolution. The incidence of divorce and separation in India has historically been low compared to Western societies. However, there has been a steady increase in marital dissolution as indicated in this exploratory study that impacts the women immensely. Women, particularly in middle age groups, are more vulnerable to dissolution, with separation rates significantly higher than divorce rates. Factors such as financial independence, domestic conflicts, changing social norms, and globalisation have influenced this trend. Union dissolution varies across regions, showing a distinct north–south divide, with southern states experiencing higher dissolution rates. Among religious groups, Christians have the highest dissolution rates, particularly in urban areas. Across all demographics, separation remains the dominant form of dissolution. While union dissolution is increasing in India, challenges such as social stigma, economic hardship, and legal battles persist. Addressing these concerns through legal reforms, social awareness, and economic empowerment is crucial for ensuring the well-being of individuals undergoing marital dissolution.
Online Network Formation Among Students During COVID-19: Analysing Path Dependency in a Natural Experimental Setting Anindita Namhata, Anugraha Kalikote, Sudipta Paul, Zakir Husain Studies in Microeconomics, 2025 The onset of COVID-19 in 2020 led to the closure of educational institutions and a shift to online teaching in India. It provides a natural experiment setting in which to examine the formation of endogenous ties among students and analyses the path-dependent nature of such a process. Information on sources of academic assistance was collected from members of two groups of students enrolled in the postgraduate course of the Economics Department of an Indian University using Google forms. The information was analysed using standard measures employed in social network analysis, such as sociograms, centrality measures, and homophily index. We show that, contrary to expectations, inheriting ties can constrain actors from forming ties that optimize outcomes. JEL Codes: D85, I20
Do Working Women Enjoy Less Leisure? An Analysis of Time Use Data for India Deeghi Basu, Sukanya Dutta, Shreya Saha, Zakir Husain Forum for Social Economics, 2025 Understanding time use patterns provides useful insights into how individual behaviour and gender roles are defined in patriarchal societies. Most studies focus on variations in time use across gender, ignoring differences between working and non-working women. We use the nationally representative Time Use Survey for India (2019) to analyse differences in leisure and self-care activities between working and non-working women. Using the leave one out female workforce participation rate at the primary sampling unit as instrument, we find that working women spend significantly less time on leisure and self-care activities vis-à-vis non-working women. Findings are robust across econometric methods (endogenous quantile regression models) and over socio-demographic groups. The results indicate time poverty of working women, questioning the conventional belief that work empowers women and improves their quality of life. It calls for attaining a work-leisure balance through a change in societal attitudes and gendered norms about the role of women.
Does improved cooking fuel empower women? Evidence from India YuJung Julia Lee, Zakir Husain, Mousumi Dutta Sustainable Development, 2024 Reliance on biomass fuel remains high in many developing countries, like India. Shifting to clean fuel has widely recognized benefits for women in saving time, improving health, and creating a better environment. Other benefits to women in the form of increasing empowerment are a relatively under‐researched area. Using data from the nationally representative National Family Health Survey (2019–21) in India, this study uses endogenous treatment effect models to explore the causal effect of shifting to clean fuel on awareness, work, mobility, decision‐making and financial autonomy. Analysis reveals significant gains in all dimensions, particularly in women's mobility and decision‐making. The gains are relatively higher among less educated women, those from poor households, and those belonging to socially advantaged groups. Focusing on gains to empowerment will motivate women to adopt clean fuel and enable a holistic transformation of society through the simultaneous attainment of several Sustainable Development Goals.
Maternal and Child Health in India: Networks and Information Diffusion Mousumi Dutta, Saswata Ghosh, Zakir Husain Maternal and Child Health in India Networks and Information Diffusion, 2024 This book examines the process of information diffusion and the challenges of spreading awareness about maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes in India, with a special focus on Bihar – a state in eastern India. Investing in the health of women and children results in significant and long-lasting economic and social benefits to society. Analysing the National Family Health Survey data, the volume explores the role that access to information has on the adoption of MCH practices. It also explores regional variations – between Empowered Action Group (EAG) states and non-EAG states and also across EAG states – in the impact of information networks. Using appropriate econometric methods, the authors study the role of peer effects and grass-roots health workers in bringing about a change in attitude within communities. The book looks at the process of information dissemination between the grass-roots health workers and the target women and brings to the forefront the intricacies of patriarchal family dynamics that hinder women from accessing basic maternal and child healthcare needs. Based on grass-roots experiences, the book provides sharp insights from the field for the benefit of researchers, policymakers, and activists. Rich in empirical data, this book will be of interest to academics and researchers of development economics, public health policy and practice, community health, healthcare administration and management, primary healthcare and family practice, and health and social care.
Maternal education and child nutritional status in bangladesh: Evidence from demographic and health survey data Pakistan Journal of Life and Social Sciences, 2013
