Our Team
Vinayakan Sajeev Beena (he/him)
Founder
Vinayakan is a passionate advocate for free-market principles, focusing on public policy, LGBTQAI+ economics, and India's political economy. He's pursuing an MSc in Economics & Public Policy at the University of Bologna, Italy, and co-founded the Institute for Queer Economics. Elected twice to the Members' Council of Rethinking Economics International, he serves as a campaign officer. His research covers topics like property rights, tribal policies, and the contributions of Indian libertarian economists. Vinayakan has earned several fellowships, including the Frédéric Bastiat and Don Lavoie Fellowships at the Mercatus Center, George Mason University, and the Youth Leadership Fellowship from the Centre for Public Policy Research in India, funded by the Atlas Network. He's also a National Coordinator for Students For Liberty (SFL), leading the Academic Programs track for South Asia-SFL, and a distinguished Prometheus Fellow. Admiring economist Hayek, Vinayakan also enjoys swimming for personal solace.
Shobha Vasan (she/her)
Co Founder
Shobha is a research associate at Azim Premji University and is skilled in interdisciplinary research focused on agricultural economics and sustainable development. She earned a Master of Arts in Economics from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor of Arts from St. Thomas College, affiliated with the University of Calicut. Shobha has interned with prestigious public organizations like Niti Aayog and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration, as well as several nonprofit organizations including Vacha Charitable Trust, Mann Deshi Foundation, and Mount Everest. She actively participates in women in economics initiatives, advocating for the empowerment and inclusion of women in the field.
Abhirami S Lal (she/her)
Co Founder
Abhirami Lal is a postgraduate student at Azim Premji University in Bangalore, specializing in development economics and public policy. She is trained in fieldwork to gauge real-world insights and has hands-on experience handling data. Her research interests include applied macroeconomics, development policy, causal inferences, and economics of identity.
Akshay V S (he/him)
Core team Member
Akshay is an Analyst at HSBC's Business Consulting division. His expertise includes business data analysis, international economics, and macroeconomic research. He has a Master of Arts in Economics from Jadavpur University, Kolkata, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, affiliated with Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. His practical experience includes an internship with the Development Monitoring and Evaluation Office at Niti Aayog, where he could hone his understanding of economic policies. Possessing strong computer skills in SQL, SAS, and Excel, Akshay excels in extracting valuable insights from complex datasets. Notably, he emerged as the University Topper in BA Economics Honours in 2021 and was honored with the Kerala Chief Minister's Student Excellence Award in 2022.
Devika Vinod (she/her)
Core Team Member
Devika Vinod, an Economics student pursuing a master's degree at Azim Premji University in Bangalore, is interested in higher education and segregation-based research and teaching. She graduated from Government College for Women and is a University of Kerala rank holder. Devika completed a winter internship with the IndiVillage Foundation, where she analyzed the baseline assessment surveys of two programs for the holistic development of youth. Additionally, she is a core team member of two student-led initiatives: the KN Raj Economics Club and 'Action' for Empowerment and Collaborative Learning of Students.
Nandu S (he/him)
Advisor
Doctoral scholar in Economics at the Tuscany Universities PhD program at the University of Florence, Pisa, and Siena, working on the themes of Public Debt, Fiscal Crisis, Dual Economies, Heterogeneous Agents, and Structural Transformation. Prior to that completed, a Master of Arts in Economics from the Centre for Economic Studies and Planning (CESP), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, and then worked as an Academic Associate in Economics Area at the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode. Areas of interest include mainly Development Macroeconomics, Public Finance, and Economic Dynamics.
Apart from that, he is also the co-founder of Economiga, Co-Ordinator of the Inequality Working Group at YSI, and advisor to KN Raj Economics Club.
Naveen Hari (he/him)
Advisor
​
Naveen Hari is pursuing a PhD in Economics at Texas A&M University, his research focuses on Development Economics, Political Economy, and Labor Economics. Holding a Master's degree in Economics from Shiv Nadar University, Delhi NCR, Naveen has cultivated a deep understanding of economic theory and its real-world applications. Outside the academic realm, Naveen is the founder of Economiga, a pioneering initiative aimed at fostering connections among economics enthusiasts. Through Economiga, they strive to create a vibrant community where aspiring economists can engage in meaningful discourse, share insights, and collaborate on impactful projects. Proficient in a diverse array of analytical tools, including Excel, R, STATA, and LaTeX, Naveen possesses the technical prowess to harness data and derive actionable insights.