Full-time Faculty
Associate Professor & Chairperson
Ph.D. in Economics, Virginia Tech., USA
M.A. in Economics, Virginia Tech., USA
M.S.S. in Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
B.S.S. in Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Phone: +8802 55668200 - 1813
Email: syed.ehsan@northsouth.edu
Office: NAC 831c
Dr. S. M. Asif Ehsan is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at North South University. He is currently serving as the Chairperson of the department. Dr. Ehsan obtained his Ph.D. in Economics from Virginia Tech, USA. His primary research interests lie in development economics, environmental economics, and applied econometrics. As an empirical researcher, Dr. Ehsan engages in core economic studies and has contributed to several interdisciplinary research projects supported by organizations such as the International Development Research Centre (IDRC, Canada), the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), UNDP, the Bangladesh Planning Commission, and North South University. His research addresses a wide range of social and environmental issues. Dr. Ehsan has presented his work at numerous international conferences and published in prominent academic journals, including Energy Research & Social Science and Economic Papers. He also contributes economic articles to national and international periodicals.
At North South University, Dr. Ehsan teaches graduate courses in econometrics, covering topics such as panel data analysis, time series forecasting, and game theory. Prior to obtaining his Ph.D. and M.A. in Economics from Virginia Tech, USA, he completed his bachelor's and master’s degrees in Economics from the University of Dhaka, graduating with first-class honors in both. Dr. Ehsan is a member of the American Economic Association (AEA), The Econometric Society, and the East Asian Economic Association (EAEA). He is also a lifetime member of the Bangladesh Economic Association, the American Alumni Association, and the Cadet College Club Limited.
Ph.D. in Economics, Virginia Tech., USA, 2016
M.A. in Economics, Virginia Tech., USA, 2013
M.S.S. in Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2010
B.S.S. in Economics, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh, 2009
Associate Professor, Department of Economics, North South University (April 2022 – present)
Assistant Professor, Department of Economics, North South University (January 2017 – March 2022)
Graduate Instructor, Department of Economics, Virginia Tech. (2015 - 2016)
Teaching Assistant, Department of Economics, Virginia Tech. (2011 - 2014)
Graduate-level
Econometric Methods (ECO502)
Econometric Analysis of Panel Data and Limited Dependent Variable Models (ECO651)
Time Series Modeling (ECO652)
Game Theory (ECO686)
Economic Development (DEV563)
Natural Resource and Ecological Economics (ENV602)
Undergraduate-level
Game Theory (ECO475)
Applied Time Series Forecasting (ECO472)
Introduction to Econometrics (ECO372)
Environmental and Natural Resource Economics (ECO354)
Introduction to Microeconomics (ECO101)
Principles of Microeconomics (Instructor)
Principles of Macroeconomics (Instructor)
Mathematical Economics (Ph.D. level) [Conducted Review Sessions for Prof. Hans Haller]
Theory of Organization
Law & Economics
Public Economics
Microeconomic Theory
2024: "Disaster Induced Agricultural Productivity in Coastal Regions of Bangladesh: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis Approach" Research on World Agricultural Economy, 5(4), [Link] SCOPUS (with Md. Jakariya, Md Sajadul Alam, Saman Saad, Mirza Ali Shawkat, Dilruba Akter)
2023: "Labour Allocation Decision of Rice Farming Households in Bangladesh". Economic Papers, 43(1) 50-62, [Link] SCOPUS, SJR: Q2 (with J. Hossain and M.I. Hossain)
2021: "Solar energy and natural disasters: Exploring household coping mechanisms, capacity, and resilience in Bangladesh". Energy Research & Social Science, 79, p.102190, [Link] SCOPUS, SJR: Q1 (with S.B. Amin, M.I. Chowdhury, and S.Z. Iqbal)
2020: "An Assessment of the Impact of the Slowdown of the Chinese Economy on Commonwealth Member Countries". International Trade Working Paper 2020/04. London: Commonwealth Secretariat, London. [Link] (with S. Ali)
2020: "Female Labor Force Participation with Adverse Shocks: The Case of Rural Households in Bangladesh". International Review of Business Research Papers, 16(1) [Link] (with S. Akter)
2019: "Global Trade Turmoil: Implications for LDCs, Small States and Sub-Saharan Africa". International Trade Working Paper 2019/03. London: Commonwealth Secretariat., London. [Link] (with M.A. Razzaque)
2021: "Solar Energy Sustainability in Bangladesh: Tackling the Management Challenges", Chapter 30, Design, Analysis and Applications of Renewable Energy Systems, Elsevier, Publisher: Academic Press, ISBN: 978-0-12-824555-2. [Link] (with S.B. Amin, M.I. Chowdhury, and S.Z. Iqbal)
2020: "Barriers of Accessing Social Protection Programmes for the Poor and Marginalised", Chapter 1 (p. 56-117), Compendium of Social Protection Research in Bangladesh, General Economics Division (GED), Bangladesh Planning Commission. [Link] (with M.A. Razzaque and I.H. Bhuiyan)
2020: "Harmonisation of Small Social Security Programmes: Issues and Policy Options" Chapter 6 (p. 367-483), Compendium of Social Protection Research in Bangladesh, General Economics Division (GED), Bangladesh Planning Commission. [Link] (with M.A. Razzaque, M. Uddin, and S. Barua)
Project Name: "Spatial Surge Forecasting Using Artificial Intelligence and Community Knowledge for Inclusive and Transformative Early Actions" [CAD 1.5 million for three years]
Funding institution: CLimate Adaptation and REsilience initiative (CLARE) co-funded by the FCDO, UK and IDRC, Canada
Role: Co-Investigator [Damage & Loss Analysis (DALA) Expert and Economist] (July 2023 to ongoing)
Project Name: "Solar Energy Access in Rural Off-Grid Areas of Bangladesh: Determinants and Impacts” [BDT 4 lakh for one year]
Funding institution: CTRG, North South University
Role: Principal Investigator (May 2018 to April 2019)
Project Name: "Motorcycle Revolution: COVID-19 Effects and Economic Opportunities in the Informal Sector” [BDT 5 lakh for one year]
Funding institution: CTRG, North South University
Role: Co-Investigator (2022 to April 2023)
Project Name: "The Impacts of Natural Disaster on Energy Poverty: Evidence from Bangladeshi Flood and Cyclone-prone Areas” [BDT 4 lakh for one year]
Funding institution: CTRG, North South University
Role: Co-Investigator (May 2019 to April 2020)
Project Name: "Barriers of Accessing Social Protection Programmes for the Poor and Marginalised”
Supporting institution: UNDP, Bangladesh
Role: Co-Investigator (December 2018 to March 2019)
Project Name: "Global Trade Turmoil: Implications for LDCs, Small States and Sub-Saharan Africa”
Supporting institution: Commonwealth Secretariat
Role: Short-term consultant (October 2018 to January 2019)
Administrative and Committee Services (2017– present):
Previously:
Reviewer:
Grant proposal: SANDEE Research Grant Competition (Winter 2024, Summer 2024)
Grant proposal: NSU Conference Travel and Research Grants Committee (CTRG) (2024-2025)
Grant proposal: WEE-Connect Initiative at BRAC Institute of Governance and Development (BIGD) (Spring 2024)
Academic journal: Economic Papers: A journal of applied economics and policy (2023)
Academic journal: North South Business Review (2023)
Conference paper: BER Annual Economists’ Conference, Department of Economics, University of Dhaka (2019)
Conference paper: Economic Research Group (ERG) conference (2018)
Panel Discussant:
2024: “Bridging the Gap: Tacking Inequality for Sustainable Development in Bangladesh”, Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID), Bangladesh
2023: Technical Session 6: Emerging Development Issues, “Development Prospects and Challenges: BIDS Research ALMANAC 2023”, BIDS, Bangladesh
2022: “Unleashing the potential for Digital Financial Inclusion: Exploring the Strategies Roadmap” organized by Innovision Consulting in association with The Department of Economics, NSU, Bangladesh
2021: “Assessing Adoption and Diffusion of Agricultural Innovations in Bangladesh” Jointly Organized by NSU, Curtin University, and University of Western Australia
2019: “BERC-NSU-BDAEE Energy Summit”
Trainer:
2023: “Sustainable Development and Project Management (SDPM)” Organized by Bangladesh Civil Service Administrative Academy, Dhaka
2021: “Methods and techniques of time series data analysis related to Environment & Climate Change” Organized by FAO-DoE
2020: “Theory Building and Theory Testing – Multivariate analysis – ordinary least squares and binary choice modelling” ERP, North South University. Conducted two sessions of the four-day workshop for faculties at North South University
External supervisor/examiner:
2024: MS in Economics thesis titled "The impact of agricultural extension services on productivity and income among smallholder farmers in Bangladesh" School of Economics, University of Kent, UK [Role: External Supervisor]
2023: MSS in Economics thesis titled "Impact of remittance on household debt and asset allocation", Department of Economics, University of Dhaka [Role: External Examiner]
2023: MSS in Economics thesis titled "Exploring the effects of gender of household head in income mobility and economic mobility in Bangladesh", Department of Economics, University of Dhaka [Role: External Examiner]
2023: MSS in Economics thesis titled "Exploring the role of madrasah education in women's empowerment: Evidence from Bangladesh", Department of Economics, University of Dhaka [Role: External Examiner]
2022: MS in Applied Economics titled: "An essay on the factors of income", Department of Economics and Social Sciences, Brac University [Role: External Examiner]
Memberships:
American Economic Association (Regular)
The Econometric Society (Active)
East Asian Economic Association (Inactive)
Bangladesh Economic Association (Life Member)
American Alumni Association (Life Member)
Dhaka University Economics Alumni Association (Life Member)
Cadet College Club Limited (Life member)
Development Economics
Applied Econometrics
Environmental Economics
Labor Economics