Dr Amrita Saha

Dr Amrita Saha, who completed her PhD in Economics in 2016 and now works at the Institute of Development Studies, has been named as the winner of the Exim Bank International Economic Research Annual (IERA) Award 2017.

The Export-Import Bank of India established the IERA awards in 1989 to promote research in international economics, trade, development and related financing by Indian nationals at universities and academic institutions in India and abroad.

Amrita, who will collect her award and a prize of 350,000 Indian rupees (£3,960 at time of publication) at a ceremony in Delhi on 9 August, has been recognised for her 2016 thesis Essays in Indian trade policy, a collection of essays exploring the political economy of trade protection in India.

Speaking after receiving the news that she would be presented with the award, Amrita said: “This is really exciting for me as I am down to receive the award and a citation – but more importantly it will be a great opportunity for me to engage with the Indian government again, including the Chief Economic Adviser (among others!) – with dissemination in wider trade policy circles.”

The bank will also publish an extended extract of 25,000 words from Amrita’s thesis as an occasional paper, which will also highlight the role of the University of Sussex, Amrita’s PhD supervisors in the Department of Economics, and her examiners.

Professor L. Alan Winters, who supervised Amrita throughout her PhD alongside Dr Ingo Borchert, commented: “This is excellent news and I’d like to congratulate Amrita on her brilliant achievement. Winning the prestigious Exim Bank International Economic Research Annual Award is fitting recognition of Amrita’s hard work and very well deserved!”