Kunal PANDA, Master & PhD in Economics

Broadly, my academic background and interest in Economics stems from interdisciplinary learning. While I (begrudgingly) studied Mathematics in high school, you could always find me reading history books at recess. Since my time at the University of Delhi, I have been interested in historical political economy and material conditions. Blessed with an intersectional space and rigorous quantitative training, I graduated with a Bachelor of Economics with my research recipe - social institutions matter, and history can uncover how we experience modernity. 

Before pursuing a doctorate, I enrolled in the Master’s in Economics Program at the School of Research. This graduate program equipped me with quantitative methods. Consequently, my (if I may say) qualitative interests in history were enhanced by advanced techniques to “think and write” from an economic perspective. 

It is clear that learning something new comes with stress and frustration - it means that you may be on the right track. That being said, the Master’s programme was very stressful. The stress is even higher for non-French students. So, my brightest memory is working with peers and close friends who have celebrated my highs and supported my lows. I also cherish the safe space I have created with other Indian students/alumni. 

Two teachers—one each during my undergraduate and graduate studies — have contributed the most to my training and research experience thus far.

My first teacher is Ms. Archana Aggarwal, an Associate Professor at Hindu College, University of Delhi. She works on labour relations in Delhi and introduced me to historical political economy and feminist economics. I was always excited to attend her classes, as she infused textbook economic models with a rich context of their history and usage. Economists often abstract away from the world in search of general intuition, but she teaches me to step back and think more clearly about praxis. 

My second teacher is Riddhi Kalsi, a PhD student at the Department of Economics who was a TA for Econometrics during my graduate studies at Sciences Po. Her work examines public/private wage premia for women in France. Now a close friend and colleague, I am in awe of her grasp of socio-economic intuition. I will always cherish my conversations with her. She teaches me to think of any economic question as a mean to understand welfare and to always start with descriptive statistics! 

My training has contributed to my research in two ways. First, I possess the conceptual skill sets needed to analyse literature critically. I focus on applied research with observational data, so my chosen strand of literature is increasingly dynamic and rigorous. My graduate training helps me learn new skills that come with new research. Second, I have become more grounded when I ‘practice’ research. That is to say, I am more prudent about my research and empirical findings. The way I think about economic questions is more systematic with a clear mechanism.

A doctorate is the only natural progression for my curiosity and interests. I realised my interest in exploring beyond classroom syllabi early in my education. I probably spent more time researching a particular text’s source and bibliography than the actual text. Moreover, I was always in high demand among classmates to revise key concepts before exams! Among many Indian families, becoming a civil servant is a traditional choice for people like me. However, I wish to create new knowledge. A doctorate is a good way to begin this journey, where colleagues at Sciences Po equally match my aptitude and I can consistently aim towards my career goals.         

I work on identifying the long-run effects of colonialism on health and nutrition, with a primary focus on India. I combine studies in public good provision and agrarian change to comprehensively link institutional history with living standards. 

Here are a few pieces of advice - 

1. Allow space to mold your ideas: PhD aspirants apply to a doctoral program with research proposals. A proposal demonstrates an aspirant’s contribution to their chosen literature. The ideas in the proposal are likely to change, always for the better. Early on in the program, aspirants need to stay up-to-date with literature and be open to refining their ideas. 
2. Don’t ‘research’ alone: The best way to complement the advice above is to keep talking to your colleagues about your work. Aspirants need to understand the communal nature of research. The recipe is to present your research and refine it with feedback. Working alone can be lonely and stressful, and amazing ideas can emanate from the simplest conversations. 
3. Be kind to yourself:  A PhD is a stressful career path. The time leading up to a dissertation spans personal and professional lives. Aspirants need to ensure that the stress associated with research does not impact their personal lives. My advice is to preserve physical and mental health apart from a good social life. Foremost, seek help if you feel the need.