The International Relations Office is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Kaushik Basu, Carl Marks Professor of International Studies at Cornell University, as a Global Chair at the University of Bath for a two-year term from the start of the 2025/26 academic year.
As a Global Chair, Professor Basu will contribute his world-class knowledge and expertise by engaging in major research projects and strengthening international partnerships. His appointment supports the University's strategic research pillar of Health & Wellbeing, enhancing Bath’s global profile and research impact.
Professor Kaushik Basu is a distinguished economist renowned for his influential work in development economics, game theory, and welfare economics. Professor Basu’s research, which spans the theoretical foundations of economics as well as practical policy applications, has shaped global understanding of issues such as labour markets, industrial organisation, and the economics of child labour. His innovative contributions include the formulation of the “Traveler’s Dilemma” and the development of new approaches to law and economics.
Alongside his academic achievements, Professor Basu is a leading public intellectual and advocate for economic policy reform. He has served as Chief Economist of the World Bank and Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, influencing major policy decisions. He founded the Centre for Development Economics at the Delhi School of Economics and co-founded Cornell’s Research Academy of Development, Law, and Economics (CRADLE). Professor Basu’s contributions to the field of economics have been recognised with numerous honours, including the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian awards, and an honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Bath in 2016.
Professor Basu will be hosted by the Head of the Department of Economics, Professor Ajit Mishra, Dr Mihika Chatterjee, Co-Director of the Centre for Development Studies, Dr Jorg Franke from the Department of Economics, and Dr Jennifer Golan from the Department of Social and Policy Sciences. On Professor Basu’s appointment as Global Chair, Professor Mishra said:
We are honoured and excited to be hosting Professor Kaushik Basu as a Global Chair for the period 2025-27. He has strong connections to Bath; and his visits have always been intellectually stimulating for staff and students. This appointment gives us the opportunity to host him for a longer period. Professor Basu has always been a thought leader- both inside the academic institutions he has served in and outside. He is a perfect role model for impactful research. Given his wide interests and contributions, various research groups in the Economics Department and the Centre for Development Studies are looking forward to interactions and engagement with him. Besides his lectures and keynote talk in research workshops, we hope to attract other collaborations and partnerships during his visit, using his strong global network. While the research community in the university clearly benefits, I am also happy for the students who will have the opportunity to hear directly from the scholar whose papers and contributions feature prominently in their reading lists!
On the appointments of the University’s new Global Chairs, Professor Sarah Hainsworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research & Enterprise), and Professor Manuel Barcia, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), commented:
By joining Bath as Global Chairs, these distinguished scholars will help shape research with real-world impact, forging new partnerships and elevating our University’s global standing. Their appointments highlight Bath’s commitment to excellence and will play a vital role in advancing the Global Voice & Reputation Project.