About the Department

Department of Econometrics - Profile

“Realising the growing importance of recent developments in quantitative economics, particularly mathematical programming and econometrics” in teaching and research, and “to train graduates in theoretical and empirical research in economics”, the Department of Econometrics was carved out of the Department of Economics in July 1980. Since its inception, the department has been focusing on the theoretical, methodological and empirical approach to economics along with applications to socially relevant economic issues and policies. Quantitative analysis of economic data with computer applications has been the hallmark of the Department. The M.A. (Branch III-C) Econometrics programme was started in 1978 along with M.Phil and Ph.D. programmes with a focus on applied econometrics. The post graduate courses of M.A. Econometrics and M.A. Financial Economics offer a well balanced training in economic theory, quantitative methods and applied economics. The subjects for M.A. course include microeconomics, macroeconomics, mathematical methods, statistical methods, mathematical economics, data analysis, data base, econometric theory, time series econometrics, applied econometric methods, econometric applications, panel data and non-parametric econometrics, advanced economic theory and project work, besides traditional subjects in economics and soft skill courses. The rigorous Ph.D programme focuses on conceptualisation, theory, quantitative analysis and econometric applications. The students of the Department have secured admission to MS/Ph.D programmes in Economics and MBA programme in leading western universities as well as in leading research centers in India like IGIDR and ISI. to pursue research. Most of the M.A. graduates secure placement immediately after completion of the programme in leading business organisations and academic institutions. Many Ph.D scholars from this department are employed in leading research and teaching institutions like Universities, MIDS, CDS, MSE and IIT-M.

The UGC has recognised the Department for the UGC Special Assistance Programme (SAP) in 1986 and the UGC Assistance for Infrastructure in Humanities and Social Sciences (ASIHSS) programme as part of the Madras University School of Economics (MUSE). The MUSE was inaugurated on 10-01-1986 by Dr. Manmohan Singh, the then Deputy Chairman of Union Planning Commission and former Prime Minister of India. The RBI Unit on Economics of Education and the Farm Management Study Centre (FMSC) were created in the department with funding from the Reserve Bank of India and the Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India respectively. The University has created the Centre for Population Studies in the Department in 2007. Faculty of the department, A.M. Nalla Gounden and U. Sankar have served as members of the State Planning Commission, UGC and many Central and State Government Committees. Professor U. Sankar was also the President of the Indian Econometric Society.

Many distinguished economists both from India and from abroad including Nobel Laureates have visited and delivered lectures in the department. The department has been organising conferences, seminars, refresher courses for college teachers and training programmes in quantitative methods. The Department has organised the Second Indian-French Seminar on Equity and Efficiency Problems in Education and Summer Institute on Economic Theory and Applied Econometrics. The Department also conducts an annual Workshop on "Quantitative Techniques and Computer Applications in Social Sciences" for teachers and research scholars. 

The faculty of the Department have been awarded many fellowships and visited leading universities and research institutions both in India and abroad and conducted research in these institutions. They have also been members of various boards and committees such as Ford Foundation, UGC and Central and State Governments.

The research interests of the Department faculty are mainly in the specialised fields of development economics and economics of human resources. The Department faculty have undertaken research studies sponsored by international organisations such as the World Bank, UNDP and Rockefeller Foundation, and national organisations such as UGC, ICSSR, Planning Commission, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Ministry of Science and Technology, and Government of Tamil Nadu, among others. Some of research projects undertaken by the faculty are Unit Cost of General Higher Education, Vocationalisation of Higher Secondary School, Labour Market Analysis of Scientific and Technical Persons in India, Farm Management Study on Groundnut Production, Optimum Rate Structures for Public Enterprises, Input-Output Model Project for Tamil Nadu, Telecom Tariff, Demand for and Choice of Health Care, Economics of Female Headed Households, Financing of Higher Education – A Study of policy Options, Marriage and Age at Marriage of Females in India, and Human Capital Development Behaviour of School Students in Tamil Nadu. Policy oriented research studies, using quantitative methods, on economic issues relating to education, health, migration, science and technology, women's studies, labour markets, population, agriculture, industrial organisation, input-output analysis etc. have been conducted in the department. 

The Department has a well-equipped air-conditioned Computer and Econometrics Lab with licensed softwares such as Windows, Linux, MS Office and Econometric/Statistical software packages such as SPSS, STATA, LIMDEP, SHAZAM and Eviews. The Department is also equipped with PCs, laptops, scanner, printers, photo copier, electronic white board, projectors, audio system, and digital camera, and internet facilities are available for the students, scholars and faculty. The Department library has a good collection of more than 5000 text and reference books for students and a large collection of books, reports and leading journals for research work.

Contact Address: Department of Econometrics, University of Madras, Chepauk Campus, Chennai-600 005, India. Phone: 91-44-25399508; 25399641; Email: econometrics@unom.ac.in

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