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Pushan Dutt

Professor of Economics

Biography

Pushan Dutt is a Professor of Economics at INSEAD. He holds a PhD in Economics from New York University, a Masters in Economics from the Delhi School of Economics, and a Bachelor degree in Economics from Presidency College, Calcutta.

Professor Dutt's work lies at the intersection of politics, institutions and international economics. His main research examines how partisan concerns (the political ideology of parties in power) and populist concerns (inequality in income and asset distribution) play an important role in the determination of trade policies. The second stream of his research has a developmental focus and examines the links between institutions and policies. His recent work shows that political instability is very costly in terms of investment and growth, whereas the level of democracy or dictatorship in a country matters much less. A third stream of his research examines the role played by international trade and technological change in accelerating the wage gap between skilled and unskilled workers.

Professor Dutt’s research has been published in Canadian Journal of Economics, Review of Economics and Statistics, Economic Journal and the Journal of International Economics. He has also contributed to the Oxford Dictionary of Social Sciences where he wrote the entries on Economics.

Professor Dutt has worked as an economist at the World Bank's Development Research Group and the Latin American and Caribbean Division, and is currently consulting for the World Bank on a major research project. He has also worked as a fellow at the Ford Foundation, and as a writer and consultant for the Oxford University Press. In addition, he has taught microeconomics, economic development, and international trade and finance to undergraduate, MBA, and PhD participants since 1994. He has won the Best Teacher Award in the INSEAD MBA programme multiple times.

Latest posts

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Economics & Finance

Key Players in the Indo-Pacific Region

Pushan Dutt

Amid ongoing conflicts, shifting allegiances and incumbents jostling for influence, emerging powers such as India will play an increasingly important role in shaping Indo-Pacific relations.

Economics & Finance

Thawing US-China Relations: Competition Meets Interdependence

Pushan Dutt

What are the biggest wins from the Biden-Xi meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Forum?

Economics & Finance

Deflation Woes: Can China Avoid Japanification?

Pushan Dutt

What the world’s second-largest economy could do to stop its spiral into economic stagnation.
1 comment

Economics & Finance

US-China Ties: Damage Controlled But Obstacles Ahead

Pushan Dutt

Even before the top US diplomat headed to China this week, talk of a new Cold War was unhelpful. Still, Washington and Beijing have their work cut out steering their relationship back on course.

Leadership & Organisations

ChatGPT and the Future of Business Education

P. Puranam, P. Dutt, P. Wibbens, A. Ovchinnikov, V. Sevcenko, T. Evgeniou, P. Parker

How ChatGPT can help – and hinder – research and learning at business schools.

Economics & Finance

China’s Economy: Dragon in Turbulence

Pushan Dutt

Anaemic growth and a crippling economic war with the United States weigh on Xi Jinping even as he cements his position as China’s most powerful leader since Mao.

Economics & Finance

A China Blockade of Taiwan Will Hurt Us All

Pushan Dutt

The global economy will bear the consequences of an all-out economic war between the United States and China should the latter try to shut off Taiwan.

Responsibility

What Does the Microfinance Debate Imply for Impact Investing?

P. Dutt, J. Singh

A flexible, outcome-focused approach is the best way to achieve societal goals.

Economics & Finance

In Global Trade, Familiarity Breeds Commerce

Pushan Dutt

Given time and experience, even countries far apart in geography and culture can build strong trade links.

Economics & Finance

To Save India’s Economy, Think Big, Blunt and Fast

Pushan Dutt

With unemployment pushing 30 percent, the world’s fifth-largest economy needs a strong dose of fiscal and monetary intervention.
3 comments

Economics & Finance

A Hippocratic Oath for Corporations

When it comes to corporate responsibility, it’s time to stop the virtuous talk and begin to take simple actions.
2 comments

Economics & Finance

The Global Impact of the Trade Stand-Off Between Japan and South Korea

A regional trade tiff has the potential to bring on a global recession.

Economics & Finance

The WTO Is Not Passé

The WTO has played a greater role in the expansion of world trade than preferential trade agreements between small groups of nations.

Responsibility

A Goldilocks Framework for Attracting Funding

How social enterprises and non-profits can demonstrate their impact.

Economics & Finance

The Paradox of Protectionist Populism

Pushan Dutt, Devashish Mitra

Most Americans support free trade. So what accounts for the protectionist rhetoric of a putatively populist president?
2 comments

Economics & Finance

Who Suffers in a Trade War?

The U.S. president is shoring up his base at the expense of the international trade order.
2 comments

Entrepreneurship

From Inequality to Immortality

Pushan Dutt

A burgeoning industry promises to help the wealthy defeat the ultimate equaliser: Death.
7 comments

Economics & Finance

What Are Trump’s Promises Really Worth?

Poorer voters may have misjudged Trump by taking him “seriously but not literally” on income inequality.