Dr. Lalitagauri Kulkarni
Dr. Lalitagauri Kulkarni
Associate Professor, Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, Pune
Fulbright Fellow | |Development Policy in Digital Economy | Fintech for Society | Micro entrepreneurship
I describe myself as a macro development economist, as my research interests center on analyzing and informing national and regional policies that promote economic growth, sustainability, and equitable income distribution in developing economies.
My purpose is to serve communities by translating rigorous research into real-world impact. I believe that inclusive growth is not just an ideal but a responsibility we all share. My research interests span financial economics, banking policy, and digital financial inclusion, with an overarching goal of building evidence-based solutions for a digitally inclusive India.
As a Fulbright-Nehru Academic and Professional Excellence Fellow (2023–24) at the University of Michigan, my project focused on “Fintech and Low income Women Entrepreneurs’ Access to Finance”. This builds on my broader interdisciplinary work which lies at the intersection of public policy, technology, gender, and financial inclusion.
My academic contribution includes publications in reputed peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed journals, and books on Inclusive Banking in India: Re-imagining the Bank Business Model and The Future of Indian Banking, both published by Springer McMillan publishers. I make a constant effort to engage in outreach through my writing and op-eds on topics of public interest.
I have led various high-impact studies, consultancies, and research projects as Principal Investigator, supported by corporates, regulatory organizations like Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Small and Medium Enterprises Rating Agency (SMERA), and national and international policy think tanks such as LEAD at Krea University and Development Alternatives International (DAI). I had an opportunity to serve on the advisory committee of Consultative Group to Assist the Poor (CGAP at World Bank) project on women led nano enterprises in South Asia. These projects have focused on critical themes including the formalization of nano-enterprises, fintech’s role in improving MSME access to finance, institutional challenges in innovation-led sectors, exchange rate volatility, and corporate bankruptcy. My early work is on secondary market in life insurance products. I have an India patent published on “A Financial Engineering System and Method for Trading of Endowment Life Assurance Based Product.”
Currently, I serve as an Associate Professor at the Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics, where I lead national and international research projects, supervise Ph.D. students, and contribute to teaching and curriculum development of Masters and Executive Training Programs. I have served various leadership roles at GIPE, as Associate Dean, Director of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, and Ph.D. supervisor.
lalitagauri.kulkarni@gipe.ac.in
lalitagkulkarni@gmail.com
Office Address:
124, UGC Building
Gokhale Institute of Politics and Economics,
BMCC Road, Deccan Gymkhana,
Pune, Maharashtra,
India.