Research Interests: Labour Economics, Development Economics, Economics of Education and Health, Gender Studies.
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 PhD degree in Economics from Gujarat University, Ahmedabad. Her doctoral thesis examines the impact of economic reforms on industrial labour concerning small-scale engineering industries in Gujarat. Her PhD 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, Issues of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), Mental Health and Gender Studies. She has also worked on a research project examining the impact of demonetization on the rural economy. Another research project of hers was on studying secondary school dropouts in the Ahmedabad district and “Student-Led Mental Well-being Prevention Interventions.” Currently, she is working on an ICSSR-funded major research project titled "Digital Labour Platforms in India: Understanding Precarity and Empowerment".
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.
Dr. Yadav is a Certified Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Trainner. She conducts trainning sessions in various organisations to spread awareness about the PoSH Act 2013.
RESEARCH PROJECTS
RESEARCH ACTIVITIES: Papers Presented
"Earning Differentials and Heterogeneous Platform Effects: Evidence from Two Cities in India" A research paper presented at the 66rd Annual Conference of Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE) organised by Symbiosis School of Economics, Symbiosis International (Deemed) University (SIU), Pune, India during 19-21 January 2026
“Short and Long-run Impact of COVID-19 on Earnings and Employment in the Metropolitan City,” A research paper presented at the 63rd Annual Conference of Indian Society of Labour Economics (ISLE) organized by the Center for Development Studies and Development Economics, Rajiv Gandhi University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh, during 1-3 March 2023.
“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, organised by Ahmedabad University.
“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.
PUBLICATIONS:
Pandit S., Nanavati A., Mehta B.,& Yadav S (2025). Distress, coping, and emotional health during the gradual opening of university systems, post-COVID-19, in India. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, Vol.30, Issue 1, https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2025.2455542
Yadav, S., Gadhvi, N., & Unni, J. (2024). Short-and Long-term Impact of COVID-19 on Earnings and Employment in the Metropolitan City. The Indian Journal of Labour Economics, Vol. 66, Issue 4, pp. 1097-1118, DOI: 10.1007/s41027-024-00469-6
Yadav S, Pendharkar N., Yadav S., Paliwal P. (2023). Process Re-Engineering -: A Study of Managing and Optimizing Petroleum Products Terminal, Pacific Business Review International, Vol. 15, Issue 12, June 2023, pp. 90-97, ISSN: 0974-438X http://www.pbr.co.in/2023/june9.aspx
Yadav, S. (2023). Financial Inclusion In Rural Economy: Experiences and the Way Forward, International Journal of Social Science and Economic Research, Vol. 8, Issue 2, February 2023, pp. 225-239, ISSN: 2455-8834
DOI:10.46609/IJSSER.2023.v08i02.002 https://ijsser.org/2023files/ijsser_08__17.pdf
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
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, Research Advisory Committee (RAC), Gujarat Vidyapith, Ahmedabad, from August 2024 onwards
Member, Internal Complaint Committee (ICC), M.G.Science Institute, Ahmedabad, From June 2024 onwards
Vice-Chancellor’s nominee on the Selection Committee for the post of Adhyapak Sahayak in Economics subject, Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat
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 Ahmedabd Urban Development Authority (AUDA) to deliver an awareness session on Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act 2013 on February 20, 2026
Invited by Akashvani Ahmedabad to deliver an awareness session on Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act 2013 on February 13, 2026
Invited by Akashvani Ahmedabad to discuss Union Budget 2026-27 on February 1, 2026
Invited to chair a technical session at 9th GNLU International Conference on Economic Analysis of Law, Governance & Public Policy on 17th January 2026.
Invited to speak on “Anti-Ragging Awareness” by H.K. Commerce College, Ahmedabad on August 12, 2025.
Invited to chair a technical session at 8th GNLU International Conference on Economic Analysis of Law, Governance & Public Policy on 2nd March 2025
Invited by Akashvani to speak for Special Tribute Program to Purva Pradhan mantra Shri Manmohan Sigh on January 8, 2025
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/q7SHaei8ks3YwKE6/
https://youtu.be/C4LGU1FYExc
Invited to speak on “Women’s Rights in India: Progress, Challenges, and the Road Ahead” by M. G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad on December 9, 2024.
Invited to conduct a workshop on “Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, also known as Prevention of Sexual Harassment (PoSH) Act at M.G. Science Institute, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, on September 18, 2024.
Invited by Akashvani Ahmedabad to discuss Union Budget 2024 on February 1, 2024
Chaired a technical session at 5th Annual Economics Conference organized by Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, on January 5-6, 2024.
Chaired a technical session at 7th GNLU International Conference on Economic Analysis of Law, Governance & Public Policy on 21 January 2024 from 02:00 pm - 04:00 pm
Invited to chair a technical session at 4th Annual Economics Conference organized by Amrut Mody School of Management, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, on March 6, 2023.
Invited to chair a technical session at 6th GNLU International Conference on Law, Economics and Public Policy on 18th-19th March 2023 from 09:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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.
Yadav, S. (2014). “Tolani Vidya Mandir”, A coffee table book, published by Knowledge Consortium of Gujarat (KCG), A Society of the Education Department, Government of Gujarat.