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Saumitra Jha
Saumitra Jha
Associate Professor, Political Economy
SaumitraJha
Associate Professor of Political Economy
Associate Professor of Political Science (by courtesy), School of Humanities and Sciences
Academic Area: 
Political Economy

Research Statement

Saumitra Jha's research focuses on drawing new lessons from economic theory and history for fostering beneficial political reform and economic growth in developing societies. He is particularly interested in the role that can be played by organizational innovations in mitigating political risk, encouraging political reform and supporting peaceful co-existence between members of different ethnic, religious and social groups. His current work focuses on understanding the potential and limitations of four particular types of such organizational innovation in mitigating conflict and creating broad coalitions. These include (a) the role of financial innovations and markets, (b) the role of organizations developed to enhance historical inter-ethnic trade, (c) the potential of non-violent civil disobedience and (d) the effects of organizational skills acquired through war in fostering political reform. Saumitra has a particular interest in understanding the challenges and lessons of the South Asian experience.

Bio

Saumitra Jha is Associate Professor of Political Economy at Stanford’s Graduate School of Business.

Saumitra holds a BA from Williams College, master’s degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Cambridge, and a PhD in economics from Stanford University. Prior to joining the GSB, he was an Academy Scholar at Harvard University. He has been a Fellow of the Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance and the Center for the Study of Democratic Politics at Princeton University and received the Michael Wallerstein Award for best published article in Political Economy from the American Political Science Association in 2014 for his research on ethnic tolerance. Saumitra has consulted on economic and political risk issues for the United Nations/ WTO and the World Bank.

Academic Degrees

  • PhD: Economics, Stanford University, 2006
  • Master of Advanced Study: Mathematics (Part III), University of Cambridge, 2001
  • Master of Philosophy: Economics, Cambridge University, 2000
  • BA summa cum laude, with highest honors: Economics and Mathematics, Williams College, 1999

Academic Appointments

  • Assistant Professor of Political Economy, and by courtesy of Economics and Political Science, Stanford University 2008-2013
  • Fellow, Center for Study of Democratic Politics and Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance, Princeton University, 2012-2013
  • Academy Scholar, Harvard University, 2006-2008

Professional Experience

  • Consultant, World Bank, 2001, 2008, 2011
  • Editor, International Trade Center, UNCTAD/WTO, 1998

Awards and Honors

  • Stanford Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies Award, 2015
  • Michael Wallerstein Award for best published article in Political Economy in previous year, American Political Science Association, 2014
  • John A. Gunn & Cynthia Fry Gunn Faculty Scholar, Stanford GSB, 2013-2014
  • Fellow, Center for Study of Democratic Politics, Woodrow Wilson School, Princeton University, 2012
  • Fellow, Niehaus Center for Globalization and Governance, Princeton University, 2012
  • John A. Gunn and Cynthia Fry Gunn Faculty Scholar, Stanford GSB, 2011-2012
  • Academy Scholar, Harvard University, 2006-2008
  • Koret Foundation Dissertation Fellow, Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, 2005
  • Herchel Smith Scholar, Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, 1999-2001
  • Carl Van Duyne Prize in Economics, Williams College, 1999
  • Phi Beta Kappa (junior year), Williams College, 1998

Publications

Journal Articles

Financial Asset Holdings and Political Attitudes: Evidence from Revolutionary England
Saumitra Jha. Quarterly Journal of Economics, forthcoming. August 2015, Vol. 103, Issue 3.
'Unfinished Business': Historic Complementarities, Political Competition and Ethnic Violence in Gujarat
Saumitra Jha. Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization. August 2014, Vol. 104, Pages 18-36.
Gandhi's Gift: Lessons for Peaceful Reform from India's Struggle for Democracy
Rikhil Bhavnani, Saumitra Jha. Economics of Peace and Security Journal. April 2014, Vol. 9, Issue 1, Pages 80-92.
Can Financial Innovations Mitigate Ethnic and Civil Conflict?
Saumitra Jha. World Financial Review. 20, 2013.
Analyzing Political Risk in Developing Countries: A Practical Framework for Project Managers
Saumitra Jha. Business and Politics. 2013, Vol. 15, Issue 1, Pages 117–136.
Trade, Institutions and Ethnic Tolerance: Evidence from South Asia
Saumitra Jha. American Political Science Review. 2013, Vol. 107, Issue 4.
Does Combat Experience Foster Organizational Skill? Evidence from Ethnic Cleansing During the Partition of South Asia
Saumitra Jha, Steven Wilkinson. American Political Science Review. 2012, Vol. 106, Issue 4, Pages 883-907.
Sharing the Future: Financial Innovation and Innovators in Solving the Political Economy Challenges of Development
Saumitra Jha. Institutions and comparative economic development. Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan, 2012, Pages 131-151.
Who Has Voice in a Deliberative Democracy? Evidence from Transcripts of Village Parliaments in South India
Radu Ban, Saumitra Jha, Vijayendra Rao. Journal of Development Economics. 2012, Vol. 99, Issue 2, Pages 428–438.
The Administrative Foundations of Self-Enforcing Constitutions
Yadira Gonzalez de Lara, Avner Greif, Saumitra Jha. American Economic Review: Papers and Proceedings. 2008, Vol. 98, Issue 2, Pages 105-109.
Governance in the gullies: Democratic responsiveness and leadership in Delhi's slums
Saumitra Jha, Vijayendra Rao, Michael Woolcock. World Development. 2007, Vol. 35, Issue 2, Pages 230-246.
Maintaining peace across ethnic lines: new lessons from the past
Saumitra Jha. Economics of Peace and Security Journal. 2007, Vol. 2, Issue 2, Pages 89-93.

Working Papers

Who Has Voice in a Deliberative Democracy? Evidence from Transcripts of Village Parliaments In South India | PDF
Saumitra Jha, Radu Ban, Vijayendra Rao2012
Sharing the Future: Financial Innovation and Innovators in Solving the Political Economy Challenges of Development | PDF
Saumitra Jha, October 12011
Analyzing Political Risks in Developing Countries: A Practical Framework for Project Managers | PDF
Saumitra Jha2011
Veterans, Organizational Skill and Ethnic Cleansing: Evidence from the Partition of South Asia | PDF
Saumitra Jha, Steven Wilkinson2011
Financial Innovations and Political Development: Evidence from Revolutionary England | PDF
Saumitra Jha, August 252010
Trade, Institutions and Religious Tolerance: Evidence from India | PDF
Saumitra Jha2008

Courses Taught

Degree Courses

2013-14

POLECON 683: Political Development Economics

This course surveys emerging research in political economics as it applies to developing societies, emphasizing both theoretical and empirical approaches. Topics will include: corruption and "forensic" political economics, institutional reform...

2011-12

POLECON 231: Strategy Beyond Markets: Challenges and Opportunities in Developing Economies

This course shares significant material with POLECON 230 and the goal of developing integrated strategies for optimal firm performance that combine elements within and beyond markets. POLECON 231 diverges from the base course to delve deeper...

POLECON 239: Sloan: Strategy Beyond Markets

This course addresses managerial issues in the social, political, legal, and ethical environments of business. Cases and readings emphasize strategies to improve the performance of companies in light of their multiple constituencies, in both...

Stanford Case Studies

Managing Local Political Risk, Parking the Tata Nano (A) | P78A
Saumitra Jha, Debra Schifrin2012
Managing Local Political Risk, Parking the Tata Nano (B) | P78B
Saumitra Jha, Debra Schifrin2012
Managing Local Political Risk, Parking the Tata Nano (C) | P78C
Saumitra Jha, Debra Schifrin2012
Overcoming Political Opposition, Compressed Natural Gas Mandates in Delhi (A) | P79A
Saumitra Jha2012
Overcoming Political Opposition: Compressed Natural Gas Mandates in Delhi (B) | P79B
Saumitra Jha2012
Overcoming Political Opposition: Compressed Natural Gas Mandates in Delhi (C) | P79C
Saumitra Jha2012
Jet Airways (A): Weathering Turbulence | P60A
Nathan Blair, Saumitra Jha2009
Jet Airways (B): A Bumpy Landing | P60B
Nathan Blair, Saumitra Jha2008

Stanford University Affiliations

Greater Stanford University

Service to the Profession

  • Faculty Fellow, Association for Analytic Learning about Islam and Muslim Societies, 2012-present
  • Academic Advisory Board, Growth Innovation and Leadership University, Malaysia
  • Member, American Economic Association, American Political Science Association, Cliometric Society

In the Media

Gandhi's non-violent approach offers lessons for peace movements
Stanford Report, October 29, 2014
Saumitra Jha suggests that new evidence calls for a reinterpretation of Gandhi's non-violent movement for independence in India. He explains how today's democratic movements can benefit by adopting lessons from India's independence movement and its iconic leader.
Cities of Difference
The Indian Express, November 6, 2009
Indian Slums Are incredibly Productive
The Indian Express, September 26, 2009
Indian Slums or Economic Hubs?
Rediff, September 26, 2009
India’s Slums Represent Complex Political and Social Issues
The Business Standard, September 26, 2009
Low Walls Make Good Neighbours
The Indian Express, October 13, 2008
The Austrian Model
The New York Sun, May 24, 2008

Insights by Stanford Business

writtenSaumitra Jha: How Financial Innovation Helped Start the English Civil War (and Why That’s Important Today)
April 29, 2015
A Stanford scholar explains why financial mechanisms could be useful to align diverse interests.
writtenSaumitra Jha: Is There an Economic Solution to Ethnic Violence?
February 28, 2014
A political economist explores how commerce can help promote peace.
writtenSaumitra Jha: How Peace Can Pay
October 9, 2012
An economist shows how financial innovation can align incentives and help reduce ethnic violence.
writtenIndia's Slums Represent Complex Political and Social Issues
August 1, 2009
How slums are run depends on a variety of factors, such as their ethnic makeup, political connections, and how long they have been established.