Chakraborty named Member of the Month by International Atlantic Economic Society

Dr. Kalyan “Kal” Chakraborty, an associate professor in the School of Accounting, Economics, and Finance at Lamar University, has been named the December 2024 Member of the Month by the International Atlantic Economic Society (IAES).

“I feel humbled and lucky to be selected among thousands of highly qualified and reputed research scholars around the world who are members of IAES. This recognition is a motivation for me to undertake innovative research that is meaningful and valuable to society,” Chakraborty said.

A distinguished academic with over 25 years of teaching and research experience, Dr. Chakraborty earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Utah State University, following an M.S. in Agricultural and Applied Economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. His academic journey began in India, where he earned an M.A. in Economics, a law degree, and a diploma in management.

Dr. Chakraborty’s career has spanned a variety of institutions, including Emory University, the University of Tampa, Emporia State University, and Northern State University. He also served as Associate Director and Senior Research Scientist at the Haas Center for Research at the University of West Florida before joining Lamar University.

With a diverse range of research interests, Dr. Chakraborty has contributed extensively to the fields of applied microeconomics, health economics, public education economics, and biotechnology policy. He has published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, including Applied Economics, Contemporary Economic Policy, and the Atlantic Economic Journal, where he received the Best Paper Award in 2018. He currently serves as a reviewer for several academic journals.

“Over the years, I have presented my research at several IAES conferences in the U.S. and abroad and published my research articles on both journals. I received the Best Article of the Year award from the Atlantic Economic Journal in 2018. In each month, the IAES Conference Committee selects one research scholar among its members as a Member of the Month (MoM), based on their current and future research agenda and its societal impact,” Chakraborty said.

Dr. Chakraborty first joined the IAES shortly after earning his Ph.D. in 1998, following the recommendation of his advisor. He has since presented at IAES conferences around the world, including the U.S. and abroad, and published articles in IAES journals. Dr. Chakraborty describes the IAES as a place where researchers can build lasting relationships with international scholars and collaborate in a supportive environment.

“I have been a member of the International Atlantic Economic Society (IAES) ever since I finished my Ph.D. in 1998 and presented my dissertation paper at the IAES conference in Boston in the same year,” Chakraborty said. “The major attractiveness to become a member to IAES is that the association holds two conferences each year, one in the U.S. and the other in Europe. As a result, members could present their scholarly research to the domestic audience as well as to the international audience. The association offers an opportunity to publish our papers in two highly acclaimed journals in economics discipline, i.e., Atlantic Economic Journal and International Advances in Economic Research.”

Currently, Dr. Chakraborty is working on a research project examining the relationship between the quality of education and economic growth across 53 countries over the past four decades. Another ongoing project explores the effects of state-level minimum wages and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) benefits on reducing food insecurity.

For those considering a career in economics, Dr. Chakraborty advises young scholars to focus on the economics of education, a field with vast opportunities for meaningful research. He also emphasizes the importance of using available data to generate innovative results that can impact society, especially in areas like early childhood education.

Dr. Chakraborty plans to pursue further research on the impact of paid family leave on the health and well-being of mothers and newborns, using state-level U.S. data to explore how such policies affect maternal health, labor force participation, and family spending.

In his free time, Dr. Chakraborty enjoys traveling and exercising, always eager to share his knowledge and learn from others. His passion for learning and dedication to his research have made him a standout member of the IAES and an influential figure at Lamar University.

For more information about Dr. Chakraborty’s work and his contributions to economics, visit http://www.lamar.edu/business