Anirudh Krishna

**Anirudh Krishna** is the Edgar T. Thompson Professor of Public Policy and Political Science at Duke University's Sanford School of Public Policy. He holds a PhD in Government from Cornell University (2000) and a Master's in Economics from Delhi University (1980). Prior to academia, he served 14 years in the Indian Administrative Service, leading rural and urban development initiatives. His research focuses on poverty dynamics, social mobility in developing countries, governance, and urban poverty. He has authored over 80 journal articles and eight books, including *The Broken Ladder: The Paradox and the Potential of India’s One-Billion* and *One Illness Away: Why People Become Poor and How they Escape Poverty*.

**Education**: PhD in Government, Cornell University (2000); MA in Economics, Delhi University (1980).

**Research Interests**:

• Structural constraints on poverty and powerlessness
• Social mobility pathways and barriers
• Urban poverty and slum dynamics
• Role of social capital in development
• Global governance and policy

**Awards**: Honorary Doctorate (Uppsala University, 2012), Dudley Seers Memorial Prize (2015 and 2006), Olaf Palme Visiting Professorship (2007-08), and multiple fellowships including the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship.

**Advising & Grants**: Advised over 30 students across Masters and PhD programs; convened NGOs promoting social mobility; collaborated with the World Bank and UN on development initiatives. His work bridges research and practice, emphasizing actionable policy solutions.

**Key Projects**: Ladders of Opportunity initiative, investigating systems enabling talent ascension; studies on intergenerational mobility in India's districts and slums; analysis of geographic inequality in India.