Date:23/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/23/stories/2006082305190200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chennai B-school ropes in Harvard professor

Staff Reporter

Dr. Mullainathan is distinguished fellow

He will develop course structure and contents in subjects of behavioural and development finance

He will also carry out research programmes with the IFMR faculty and research associates

CHENNAI: The Chennai-based Institute for Financial Management and Research (IFMR) on Friday announced the launch of its "distinguished fellowship" programme and named Harvard University's Professor of Economics Dr. Sendhil Mullainathan its first distinguished fellow.

Dr. Mullainathan will develop course structure and contents in subjects of behavioural and development finance at both master's and doctoral levels for the Institute.

He will also carry out research programmes with the IFMR faculty and research associates, IFMR dean (academic) R. Chandrasekar told a press conference here.

"We are looking at developing subjects such as micro-finance and rural finance as electives for our students," he added.

Dr. Mullainathan said much of the research would involve social impact of financing in rural, developing areas.