Vidya Mahambare

Bio

I serve as the Union Bank Chair Professor of Economics and Director (Research and Fellow Programme in Management) at the Great Lakes Institute of Management, Chennai.

My research focuses on the critical intersection of economic opportunities and the social or spatial constraints shaping women's workforce participation in India. Using both primary and secondary data, I examine how migration, marital status and living arrangements influence women’s agency and professional accomplishments. Ultimately, my work aims to integrate evidence-based insights into policy and corporate discourse on gender, development and inclusion.

Research Themes:

Female labour force participation in India
Gender, geography and economic empowerment
Behavioural Decision Making
Macroeconomic policy, economic growth, savings instruments

View CV

Recent Work: Bringing together economic reasoning and social and behavioural reasoning to foster inclusive growth and gender equity policies.

Media & Public Relations: More than 150 opinion pieces in Mint, Business Standard, The Print, The Hindu BusinessLine, etc., and regular expert commentary in media such as BBC, Bloomberg and NDTV.

EXPERIENCE

2015-Present

GREAT LAKES INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT, CHENNAI

Union Bank Chair

Professor & Director

Roles:

Associate Professor of Economics & Finance (2015-2018)
Professor of Economics & Finance (2018–Present)
Director (Research and Fellow Programme in Management) (2022 onwards)

Achievements & Roles:

Member, Expert Committee on Employability and Skilling, Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission (2021-2025)
Recipient of Emerging Ventures Grants (2020, 2022), World Bank South Asia Gender Lab Grant (2022), and Azim Premji University Grant (2021)
Author of multiple publications on gender, labour markets, and development economics
Teaches courses including Applied Behavioural Economics and Macroeconomics for Managers

2005-2014

CRISIL, INDIA

Director & Principal

Economist

Roles:

Economist (2005-2008)
Senior Economist (2008-2012)

Contributions:

Led macroeconomic forecasting, policy research, and corporate advisory projects
Headed teams analysing Indian and global economic trends
Regularly engaged in media and policy discussions on growth and employment

2001-2005

CARDIFF BUSINESS SCHOOL, UK

Postdoctoral

Research Fellow

Conducted postdoctoral research in economics
Taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses in International Trade and Managerial Economics

EDUCATION

1997-2000

PhD

LANCASTER MANAGEMENT SCHOOL, UK

Degree: Economics

Scholarship: Funded by the award of the doctoral grant by the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals (UK) and Lancaster University doctoral scholarship.

1996-1997

LANCASTER MANAGEMENT SCHOOL, UK

MSc

Degree: Master of Science

Major: International Trade and Finance

Highlights: Secured Distinction

1994-1996

GOKHALE INSTITUTE OF POLITICS AND ECONOMICS, PUNE

Degree: Master of Arts

Major: Economics

Highlights: Secured 1st place and received the Pandurangi Prize of academic excellence