Ranjit Dighe

Ranjit Dighe is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Economics at the State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego. His research focuses on the political economy of anti-immigration legislation, alcohol prohibition, and American economic history, with notable contributions to understanding the historical dynamics of U.S. monetary policy and business history. He holds a Ph.D. in Economics from Yale University (1998) and a B.A. in Economics from Oberlin College (1987).

His work bridges economic history and cultural analysis, examining topics like the influence of media (e.g., Business Week) on Keynesianism's adoption, the socio-economic impacts of Prohibition, and the allegorical economic themes in classic literature such as The Wizard of Oz. He has authored books, chapters, and peer-reviewed articles on these topics, including The Historian’s Wizard of Oz (2002) and The Historian’s Huck Finn (2016).

• Key Awards: President of the Economic and Business History Society (2012–2013), Hagley Museum Grants-in-Aid (2004–2005), and multiple SUNY Oswego grants for research and travel.
• Grants and Leadership: Chair of SUNY Oswego Economics Department (2010–2016), recipient of discretionary salary awards annually since 1998.

Dighe’s recent work explores post-Prohibition beverage industry shifts and the historical roots of craft beer. He has presented at academic conferences and public lectures on topics ranging from economic inequality to the cultural history of canals.