Smriti Rao

Smriti Rao, Ph.D., is a Professor of Economics and Chair of the Department of Economics, Finance, and Accounting at Assumption University's D'Amour College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Her work bridges development economics, feminist economics, and political economy, with a focus on gendered labor and migration patterns in India. At Assumption, she teaches courses on microeconomics, economic development, and comparative economic systems.

• B.A., Birla Institute of Technology
• M.A., Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst (2005)

Dr. Rao’s research explores the intersections of gender, class, and labor dynamics in India, particularly in contexts of social reproduction, migration, and agrarian change. Her recent publications analyze time-use data, social protection policies, and crises of care work in globalized economies.

Her scholarly work, including contributions to Feminist Economics and The Journal of Peasant Studies, highlights systemic inequalities and policy challenges. She has consulted for organizations like UN Women and the International Food Policy Research Institute, shaping frameworks for gendered economic empowerment.