Research Seminar Series: Bridging the Educational Divide

We are pleased to invite you to the upcoming Research Seminar Series (RSS) on the topic of "Bridging the Educational Divide", presented by Professor Sumit Agarwal.

Date: 8 May, 2025
Time: 11:45 AM – 1:00 PM
Venue: Level 2, CR-W2-03, Asia School of Business

Biography

Sumit Agarwal is Low Tuck Kwong Distinguished Professor of Finance at the NUS Business School and a Professor of Economics and Real Estate at the National University of Singapore (NUS). He is the Managing Director of Sustainable and Green Finance Institute at NUS. He is also the President of Asian Bureau of Finance and Economic Research .In the past, he has held positions as a Professor of Finance at the Business School, Georgetown University. Before that he was a senior financial economist in the research department at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago and prior to joining the Chicago Fed, he was a senior vice president and credit risk management executive in the Small Business Risk Solutions Group of Bank of America.Sumit’s research interests include issues relating to household sustainablity, financial institutions, household finance, behavioral finance, and real estate markets. He has published over one hundred and twenty five research articles in economics and finance journals among others. Additionally, he has co-written six books titled Why We Feel Blue When the Air is Grey , Kiasunomics 3, Introduction to Household Financial Management , Kiasunomics 2, Household Finance: A Functional Approach , and Kiasunomics , and also co-edited two collected volumes titled Impact of COVID-19 on Asian Economies and Policy Responses, and Household Credit Usage: Personal Debt and Mortgages.He writes regular op-eds in the Straits Times and is featured on various media outlets like the CNA, BBC, CNBC, and Fox on issues relating to finance, banking, and real estate markets. Sumit’s research is widely cited in leading newspapers and magazines like the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Economist, and the U.S Presidents Report to Congress. He also runs a Podcast on household financial decision making called Kiasunomics.

Abstract

We examine the impact of mobile network connections on schooling decisions and academic performance, utilizing the nationwide installations of telecommunication infrastructure across India. We find an annual increase of 1.2% in primary student enrollments after installation, with a cumulative effect of 8.4% by the fourth year, benefitting approximately 4.8 million students. We find larger effects among lower-caste students compared to their general-caste counterparts, particularly in upper primary education, urban and private schools, and villages with a higher share of marginal workers. These findings provide suggestive evidence that mobile network connections improve economic outcomes, promoting educational attainment among marginalized children.

(Co-authors: Liu Ee Chia and Pulak Ghosh)

Join us for an insightful discussion on the challenges and solutions in bridging the educational divide, an issue that is crucial in today's rapidly evolving world. We look forward to welcoming you to this insightful session.

Should you require further information, please don’t hesitate to get in touch: research@asb.edu.my