Economics and Public Policy

Dr. Sonal Yadav is an Assistant Professor in Economics and Public Policy Area, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad. She did her B.A. (Hons.) and M.A. (Economics) with a specialization in Economics of Human Resources from the M.S.University, Baroda. Her M.Phil. research focused on Labour Market Segmentation in India. She has a Ph.D. degree in Economics from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. Her doctoral thesis examines the impact of economic reforms on industrial labour concerning Small Scale Engineering Industries of Gujarat. Her Ph.D. thesis title was "Impact of Economic Reforms on Industrial Labour- A Study of Small Scale Engineering Industries of Gujarat".

Dr. Yadav started her teaching career in 1995. She worked as a Part-time Lecturer at Arts and Commerce College, Kapadwanj, B.V.D. Arts and Commerce College, Ahmedabad, and S.M. Patel Institute of Commerce before joining H.L. Institute of Commerce in 2001, which later became a constituent of Ahmedabad University.

She has presented several research papers at National and International conferences. She has also published research papers in peer-reviewed national and international journals. Her primary research areas include Labour Economics, Agriculture Economics, Issues of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and Gender Studies. She has also worked on a research project related to finding the impact of demonetization in the rural economy. Currently, she is working on studying secondary school dropouts in the Ahmedabad district. She is also working on the research project titled “Student-Led Mental well-being Prevention Interventions.”

She is a life member of the Indian Economic Association (IEA), Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE), Gujarat Economic Association (GEA), Indian Association for Canadian Studies, and WILPF (Women's International League for Peace and Freedom) India chapter.

RESEARCH PROJECTS

• Worked on the Research project on "Demonetisation and It's Impact on Rural Economy" funded by University Research Board, Ahmedabad University in the academic year 2017-18. The working paper on "Impact of Demonetisation Through The Lens of Financial Inclusion in Rural Locals" can be accessed on https://ahduni.edu.in/research-working-paper/impact-of-demonetization-through-the-lens-of-financial-inclusion-in-rural-locals
• Successfully completed the research project on " A Study of Secondary School Drop-outs: Reasons and Way Forward" funded by the University Research Board, Ahmedabad University in the academic year 2018-19.
• Currently working on the research project titled “Student Led Mental well-being Prevention Interventions” (Academic Year 2022-23)

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: Papers Presented 

• Secondary School Education through the Lens of Dropouts” A research paper presented at the 2nd International Conference on Social Work and Law jointly organized by the GNLU Center for Law and Society & the GUJCOST-GNLU Center for Excellence in IPR during 29-30 July 2022.

• “Impact of COVID-19 Crisis on Employment: Who bears the brunt?” A research paper presented at the 3rd Annual Economics Conference on The Road to an Inclusive Recovery-Post Pandemic Era held on 11-12 March 2022.

• “Secondary School Dropout: A Perspective” A Research Paper Presented at Oxford Women's Leadership Symposium, Oxford, UK during 22-23 March 2021.

• "Towards Universalization of Secondary Education: Challenges Before Gujarat" A Research Paper presented at the Golden Jubilee National Conference of Gujarat Economic Association organized in association with the Indian Economic Association (IEA), Global Economists Forum (GEF) and, Indian Economics and Allied Science Association (IEASA) at N. S. Patel Arts College, Anand, Gujarat during 3- 5 January 2020.

• "Towards Universalization of Secondary Education: Challenges Before Gujarat" A Research Paper presented at the 102nd Annual Conference of the Indian Economic Association (IEA) organized by Auro University, Surat, Gujarat, India during 27- 29 December 2019.

• "Financial Inclusion in Rural Economy: Experiences and the Way Forward" A Research Paper presented at International Conference on Banking and Finance organised by Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat during 17-18, March 2018.
• “Labour and Employment in a Highly Industrialized State, Gujarat” A Research Paper presented at the 30th International Conference on Imagi/Nation: India/Canada – Past, Present, and Future jointly organized by the Indian Council of Literary, Social, Educational and Cultural Research, Gujarat Arts & Commerce College (Evening) and UGC-HRDC, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, during 25-27 March 2017.
• “Employment and Productivity: The Role of Labor Market Flexibility in the Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)” A Research Paper presented at the 58th Annual Conference of ISLE held at IIT Guwahati during 24-26 November 2016
• “Issues Concerning the Employment, Production and Working Conditions in Indian MSMEs after Economic Reforms: A Study of Small Scale Engineering Industries of Gujarat” A Research Paper presented at XI International Conference on Public Policy and Management held at IIM Bangalore, India, August 8-10, 2016
• “Employment and Working Conditions in the Indian MSMEs Sector After Economic Reforms: A Study of Small Scale Engineering Industries of Gujarat” – A Research paper presented at 46th Annual Conference of Gujarat Economic Association held at Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University, Patan during 19-21 February 2016
• “Technological Flexibility in Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): A Case of Small Scale Engineering Industries of Gujarat” –A research paper presented at International Conference on Multidisciplinary Research and Practice (ICMRP 2014) organized by Research and Scientific Innovation Society (Australia, Thailand, India) on 30th  November 2014, at Ahmedabad Management Association, ATIRA Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India.
• “Labor Market Flexibility and Trends in Employment, Production, and Productivity in Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)”-A research paper (co-authored) presented at the Golden Jubilee Conference of The Indian Econometric Society (TIES) held at Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR), Mumbai from 22nd December 2013 to 24th December 2013.
• “Contribution of Factor Productivity in Micro, Small and Medium Scale Sector’s Export Earnings in India”- A research paper (co-authored) presented at XIV International Seminar on ‘Economics, Politics and Civil Society’ organized by Delhi School of Professional Studies and Research on 2nd and 3rd January 2013.
• “Instruments behind Micro, Small & Medium Scale Sector’s Export earnings in India”- A research paper (co-authored) presented at the International Conference organized by The Indian Econometrics Society at Pondicherry in March 2012.
• “A Study on Identifying Gender Issues Across Four Academic Institutes of Ahmedabad Education Society”- A research paper (co-authored) presented at the National Conference on “Women’s Development in 21st Century” organized by Women’s Development Cell, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad on 30-31 January 2010.
• “A Study on Identifying Gender Issues across Four Academic Institutes of Ahmedabad Education Society”- A research paper (jointly) presented at the National Conference on “Managing for Tomorrow- Emerging Trends, Issues and Challenges” held at the AES Post Graduate Institute of Business Management, Ahmedabad on 23-24 January 2010.
• “Global Recession and Diamond Industry of Gujarat- Problems and prospects”-A research paper presented at the International Conference on Applied Econometrics, organized by IBS Hyderabad during April 17-18, 2009.
• “Reforms in Agriculture and Rural Development in Gujarat”- A research paper presented at state level conference on ‘Problems and Prospects of Gujarat Agriculture Sector after reforms’ on July 26, 2008, organized by S. M. Patel Institute of Commerce.
• “India ‘as a Knowledge Economy: Strengths and Weaknesses”- A research paper presented at L. J. Institute of Management Studies, Ahmedabad in the seminar on ‘Emergence of Knowledge Economy: The Indian Perspective’ on 15th February 08.
• “Sustainable Development- A British Case Study”-  A research paper presented at orientation program held at Academic Staff College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, (12/04/05 to 09/05/05)
• “Labor Market Segmentation in India”- M. Phil. Dissertation, University School of Social Sciences, Gujarat University, 1996. Guide: Prof. V. P. Bhardwaj

PUBLICATIONS:

• Yadav S., Baxi H., Suthar M. (2022). Impact of Demonetization in Rural Areas through the Lens of Financial Inclusion. Journal of Rural Development, Vol. 41, Issue 1, January-March 2022, pp. 120-135, ISSN 0970-3357   DOI: 10.25175/jrd/2022/v41/i1/172466

• Yadav, S. & Suthar, M. (2021). “Employment and Productivity: The Role of Labor Market Flexibility in the Indian Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs)” Zeichen Journal, Vol. 7, Issue 4, 2021, ISSN No: 0932-4747, pp. 49-65 DOI:15.10089.ZJ.2020.V6I3.285311.2355 http://www.ezeichen.com/gallery/1809.pdf, http://www.ezeichen.com/Volume-7-Issue-4-2021
• Yadav S., Baxi H. & Suthar M. (2018) “Impact of Demonetization Through The Lens Of Financial Inclusion In Rural Locals” Working Paper, Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University, https://ahduni.edu.in/research-working-paper/impact-of-demonetization-through-the-lens-of-financial-inclusion-in-rural-locals
• "Healthcare Sector in India: How are we Performing?" Research Hub - International Multidisciplinary Research Journal (RHIMRJ)  Vol. 5 (4) April 2018, ISSN: 2349-7637
• "Employment, Production and Working Conditions in MSMEs After Economic Reforms: India and Gujarat" Journal of Regional Development and Planning Vol. 6 (2) December 2017, ISSN: 2277-9108
• “Bhudia Kesar Farm” a case study published in Asian Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities Vol. 7, No. 12, December 2017, pp. 160-165. ISSN 2249-7315
• “Labour and Employment in a Highly Industrialized State, Gujarat”, ZENITH International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research. ISSN 2231-5780 Vol.7 (12), December (2017) , pp. 127-138    
• “A Study on Identifying Gender Issues across Four Academic Institutes of Ahmedabad Education Society” a research paper selected for publication in VNSGU Journal of Humanities & Social Sciences, Vol.5, Issue 1, January- June, 2015, ISSN 0975-637X
• “Instruments Behind Micro, Small & Medium Scale Sector’s Export Earnings in India”, A research paper published in Towards Excellence: An Indexed Refereed Journal of Higher Education, Vol. 6, Issue No. 1, March 2014, page no. 23-35, ISSN No. 0974-035X
• “Technological Flexibility in Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs): A Case of Small Scale Engineering Industries of Gujarat”
• - A research paper published in  IJRSI/Volume I/Issue VII/November 2014, pp. 318-327 , ISSN: 2321-2705 
• International Journal of Research and Scientific Innovation (IJRSI), See more at http://rsisinternational.org/Vol.I&IssueVII.html#sthash.hs6kOAk2.dpuf
• “Contribution of Factor Productivity in Micro Small and Medium Scale Sector’s Export Earnings in India”
• A coffee table book on “Tolani Vidya Mandir” published in 2014 by Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat, A Society of the Education Department, Government of Gujarat.
• “Global Recession and Diamond Industry of Gujarat- Problems and prospects”-A research paper published in H.L.I.C. Journal of Commerce, Volume II, No.1, September 2009.
• Co- author of “Managerial and Entrepreneurial Economics”- The reference book for S. Y. B. Com. Students, published by Sudhir Prakashan, Ahmedabad. 

Dr. Yadav has taught Business Economics, International Economics, Economics of Developing Countries, Managerial and Entrepreneurial Economics, Money and Financial Systems, Sectoral Economics, and Economic Theories and Resources at the undergraduate level.

Currently, she teaches Microeconomics, Macroeconomics, Indian Economy: Performance and Policies, Economics of Education, Health, and Labour at Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University. 

• Member, Indian Economic Association
• Member, Gujarat Economic Association
• Member, Indian Society of Labor Economics
• Member, WILPF, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
• Member, Indian Association of Canadian Studies

EDITORIAL DUTIES
Member, Editorial Board, International Journal of Advanced Information in Engineering and Technology (IJAIET) http://www.ijaiet.com/index.php/editorial-board
Member, Editorial Board, COJ Reviews & Research (COJRR), Crimson Publishers, http://crimsonpublishers.com/cojrr/editorial-board.php

• Invited by Akashvani Ahmedabad to discuss Union Budget 2023 on February 1, 2023

• Invited to chair a technical session at 5th GNLU International Conference on Law, Economics and Public Policy on 10th March 2022 from 04:30 PM - 06:30 PM

• Invited as a guest speaker to deliver a lecture on "How to design a questionnaire for research?” at the Department of Economics, Faculty of Arts, M. S. University, Baroda, Gujarat on 3rd February 2022.

• Invited to deliver a Guest Lecture on "Indian Labour Market: Current Scenario” at Samarpan Arts & Commerce College, Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 27th December 2021. 

• Invited as a guest speaker to deliver a Lecture on "Labour Market: Policies and Practices” at Gujarat National Law University (GNLU), Gandhinagar, Gujarat on 17th May 2021.

• Invited to chair a technical session at GNLU International Conference on Economic Analysis of Law and Governance on 18th March 2021 from 03:00 PM - 04:45 PM
• Invited by Nirmana News, “To The Point program” to discuss on Inflation on 13/03/2021,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdeVh5JE-v8
• Invited by DD News to discuss Budget 2021 on February 1, 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wod_8X2J5-8&feature=youtu.be
• Invited by GSTV to discuss “Women’s Expectations from Budget 2021” on January 29, 2021.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_n5deEzDSI4&feature=youtu.be
• Invited as a guest speaker to deliver a Lecture on "Importance of Studying Macroeconomics” at L. J. Institute IMBA, Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 14^th February 2020. 
• Invited as a guest speaker to deliver a Lecture on "Indian Economy and Rural Labour” at Arts and Commerce College, Kapadwanj, Gujarat on 14^th December 2019. 
• Invited to Judge Debate and Elocution Competition at “ Karvan” 2019, cultural festival organized by St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, on 23^rd December 2019.
• Invited by BBC Gujarati News Bulletin to discuss Union Budget 2019-20 on February 1, 2019, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCe0yteBceQ&feature=youtu.be

https://www.facebook.com/BBCnewsGujarati/videos/393915331359140/UzpfSTEwMDAwMDM2ODkyMDg3NDoyMjM5MzE1Nzc5NDI0MDMx/?q=bbc%20news%20gujarati&epa=SEARCH_BOX

• Invited as a guest speaker to deliver a Lecture on "Inflation: Trends and Causes” at GLS University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat on 12^th February 2019. 
• Invited to Judge Inter College Debate Competition at “Antarnad” 2019, cultural festival organized by St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, on January 12, 2019.
• Invited as a Chief Guest to deliver a Keynote address at a three-day workshop on “Personality Development and Career Counseling” organized by H. S. Shah College of Commerce, Modasa for the students of Hemchandracharya North Gujarat University on 1^st January 2019.
• Invited to Judge Debate Competition at Culfest 2016, organized by St. Xavier’s College, Ahmedabad, on January 12, 2016.
• Invited to deliver an Expert Lecture on "Indian Economy and Employment Trends” at A.D. Patel Institute of Technology, New Vallabh Vidyanagar, Kheda, Gujarat on July 29, 2016. 
• Invited to deliver a talk on “Women’s Empowerment” by Ahmedabad University Students’ Event and Activity Committee as a part of the celebration of Women’s Empowerment Fortnight by Gujarat Government on 7^th August 2015 at GICT Auditorium, Ahmedabad University.
• Invited to speak on “Gender Equality – A Myth or a Reality?” at Mount Carmel High School, Navrangpura, Ahmedabad as a part of the Women’s Day celebration on March 8, 2007.