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Since its inception in 2012, YSI has grown into a global membership organization.

Miriam O.

“YSI introduced me to an international community of like-minded students and motivated me to look for alternative, richer visions of the economic system”

Olga M.

“I felt isolated because there was very little interest for my thesis topic at my university. Via YSI, I tapped into a community of scholars working on topics similar to mine.”

Recent projects

Session 5 of YSI's Early Career Researchers Series

Speaker: Surbhi Kesar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London

Surbhi Kesar is a development and political economist, who currently works as a Senior Lecturer in Department of Economics at SOAS University of London. Her recent and ongoing work focusses on labour and informal economy and the reproduction of the structure of economic dualism in India with high economic growth, thereby critiquing the imaginary of development-as-capitalist-transition; relation between identities and social exclusion; political economy of crises; a critical engagement with the social reproduction theory; and approaches towards decolonising the field of economics. Her research is embedded in Marxian Political Economy and South-centric critical frameworks of economics.

Abstract

Despite a high economic growth experienced by the India, a vast majority of its workforce derives livelihoods from the informal economy. In this talk, we reflect on how different strands of literature – both mainstream and critical – have explained the persistence of the informal economy and what role it plays in the process of economic development. Using data from individual and firm level surveys, over the period of high growth, we assess various dynamics of India’s informal economy . We reflect on why India’s experience does not square with the dominant theories and posit an alternative framework, following the works of Kalyan Sanyal, that can help us make sense of the current reality. Building on it, we derive the research agenda on informal economy and post-colonial capitalist development and posit the questions that need answering.

Session 5 of YSI's Early Career Researchers Series

Speaker: Surbhi Kesar, Senior Lecturer, Department of Economics, SOAS University of London

Surbhi Kesar is a development and political economist, who currently works as a Senior Lecturer in Department of Economics at SOAS University of London. Her recent and ongoing work focusses on labour and informal economy and the reproduction of the structure of economic dualism in India with high economic growth, thereby critiquing the imaginary of development-as-capitalist-transition; relation between identities and social exclusion; political economy of crises; a critical engagement with the social reproduction theory; and approaches towards decolonising the field of economics. Her research is embedded in Marxian Political Economy and South-centric critical frameworks of economics.

Abstract

Despite a high economic growth experienced by the India, a vast majority of its workforce derives livelihoods from the informal economy. In this talk, we reflect on how different strands of literature – both mainstream and critical – have explained the persistence of the informal economy and what role it plays in the process of economic development. Using data from individual and firm level surveys, over the period of high growth, we assess various dynamics of India’s informal economy . We reflect on why India’s experience does not square with the dominant theories and posit an alternative framework, following the works of Kalyan Sanyal, that can help us make sense of the current reality. Building on it, we derive the research agenda on informal economy and post-colonial capitalist development and posit the questions that need answering.

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YouTube Video VVVFV1N2VkV3YzBhXzFIcHlZN0VsVjF3LnBVUk4xb051ZExn

We envision economic thinking that is free of intellectual barriers, resonates with reality, and serves our global society.

We aim to

  • Open up new ways to approach economic issues
  • Understand the foundations of economics
  • Bridge silos and break silences
  • Address the challenges of our global society

We recognize that

  • Economics is not settled.
    It is more open-ended, with room for debate;
  • Economics is a topic, not a technique.
    It is a social science, not a branch of applied math.
  • There is no trade-off between depth and breadth.
    Exploring new ideas produces better ideas.

21 Working Groups

Each one grapples with topics that most economic textbooks overlook:

Rob Johnson, President of INET

About INET

INET consists of economists and thinkers from a range of disciplines who challenge conventional wisdom and advance ideas to better serve society.

Aside from nurturing the next generation of young scholars with YSI, the institute produces and funds research that challenges economic orthodoxy, informs and educates to change the conversation about major economic problems and policy, and host events that bring together scholars, students, and policymakers from around the world.

>  INET’s website

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