IIFT

About Economics Division

The Economics Division of the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) Delhi is a specialized academic unit focused primarily on teaching, training and research in Economics with an emphasis on international economics, trade policy, and finance. The Division offers M.A. (Economics) with specialization in Trade and Finance, and Ph.D. (Economics) Programmes and has been consistently ranked in top 10 Economics Departments in India by IDEAS REPEC (Within Country and State Economics Rankings: India | IDEAS/RePEc).

The Economics Division is particularly recognized for rigorous programs, influential research and dynamic faculty. The Economics Division manages the Foreign Trade Review (FTR) published by Sage Publications which is an Australian Business Deans Council (ABDC) – B category journal. The Economics Division manages the IIFT Working Paper Series indexed by RePEc for wider dissemination. The faculties regularly publish in A*, A, and B category journals listed in the ABDC like the Economic Journal, Economic Modelling, World Development, Development, International Review of Financial Analysis, Economic and Political Weekly, Research in Economics, etc.

M.A. (Economics) graduates are placed in reputed organizations like Bank of America, McKinsey and Co., The Economist, EXL, Axtria, Nomura, Worldwide Technologies, Dunhumby, Deloitte, Aptivaa, Genpact, E&Y, Moody’s Analytics, Steer, PwC, Nielsen, Exim Bank, etc. Some of the graduated students of the M.A. (Economics) programme are pursuing Ph.D. in reputed universities abroad like University of Rochester, University of Houston, University of Geneva, etc. Recent Ph.D. degree awardees from IIFT Delhi are working in institutions such as the University of Sussex, IIFT Delhi, DTU, etc. and others are engaged as senior researchers in Think-tanks, research institutions and the corporate sector.

Division Head Message

Prof. Basanta K. Sahu

Dear Students,

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to the Economics Division of Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade is a premier Institute at the forefront of research and advancing knowledge in International Business, Economics and Trade since its inception in 1963. The Institute is consistently involved in contemporary research and training in the area of international trade, economics and business for corporates, government officials and diplomats in India and overseas. The Economics Division is committed to rigorous training and research in Economics and offers the Masters and Ph.D. programmes in Economics. The Economics Division also conducts Workshops from time to time in order to expand the contours of knowledge in Economics. The dynamic faculty of the Division have published widely in reputed national and international journals.

The MA (Economics) is a master’s level course for developing a competent cadre of academicians and policy makers with advanced theoretical knowledge and analytical tools to address complex economic issues. The programme aims at providing comprehensive coverage of all major aspects of Economics along with specialization in International Economics and Financial Economics. The pedagogy is oriented towards equipping students to analyze economic data while being firmly grounded in the realms of economic theory. The course is highly relevant due to its strong analytical foundation, diverse career prospects, policy influence, and its direct contributions to addressing fundamental societal and economic challenges.

The Ph.D. in Economics at IIFT Delhi is designed for advanced academic research and policy analysis, with an emphasis on international economics, trade, finance, and development. After admission, Ph.D. candidates undergo coursework covering advanced topics in microeconomics, macroeconomics, econometrics and research methodology. The Ph.D. programme in Economics at IIFT Delhi is nationally recognized for its rigorous research orientation, strong policy interface, and advanced specialization in trade, finance, and development, making it an attractive choice for aspiring economists and policy leaders.

I wish you all a rewarding and enriching academic year.

Prof. Basanta K. Sahu