Nikhil Damodaran



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Assistant Lecturer
Department of Economics
University of Melbourne
nikhil.damodaran@unimelb.edu.au

I am a macroeconomist. I completed my Ph.D. from Louisiana State University in 2018. My interests are open economy macroeconomic models with fiscal policy. My current research uses these policies to examine within country business cycle movements and its outcomes on aggregate business cycles.

I find joy and fulfilment in teaching macroeconomics courses and engaging with students who are passionate about understanding the macroeconomy. Additionally, my research explores innovative pedagogical approaches in economics, aiming to develop content that not only imparts valuable skills but also resonates deeply with students, fostering their intellectual growth and curiosity.

Research

Hooray for Bollywood: Using Hindi Language Films to Teach Economics
Geerling, W., Arya, E. S., Damodaran, N., & Thomas, N. (2023)
Available at SSRN 4664777, (Revision requested)

ChatGPT has aced the test of understanding in college economics: Now what?
Geerling, W., Mateer, G. D., Wooten, J., & Damodaran, N. (2023)
The American Economist, 68(2), 233-245.

Consumer payment choice and the heterogeneous impact of India’s demonetization
Bajaj, A., & Damodaran, N. (2022)
Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, 137, 104329.

Work in Progress

Fiscal Policy and Transmission: The Case of India's States

Teaching

Teaching statement

Courses

  • Money, Banking and Finance (Uni Mel) - S1 2023, S01 2024
  • Introductory Macroeconomics (Uni Mel) - S2 2023
  • Economics of Financial Decision Making (Monash U) - S02 2023, S02 2022
  • Principles of Economics (Monash U) - S01 2021, S02 2021, S01 2022, S02 2022, S01 2023
  • Macroeconomics (Monash U) - S01 2022, S02 2022, SU 2023, S01 2024
  • Macroeconomic Policy (Monash U) - S02 2021
  • Trade, Finance and Foreign Exchange (Monash U) - S01, 2021, 2022, 2023
  • Business in Asia - WS 2021, WS 2022, SU-2022, WS 2023, S2 2023
  • Chinese Economy - S2 2023
  • Econometrics II (JGU) - Spring 2021, Spring 2022
  • Open Economy Macroeconomics (JGU) - Fall 2021
  • Macroeconomics II (JGU) - Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Fall 2020, Fall 2021
  • Statistics II (JGU) - Spring 2020, Spring 2021
  • Mathematical Methods for Economics I (JGU)- Fall 2019, Fall 2020
  • Macroeconomics I (JGU)- Fall 2018
  • International Trade (JGU)- Spring 2019 and Fall 2018
  • Agricultural Price Analysis (LSU) - Spring 2017
  • Principles of Economics (LSU) - Spring 2015
  • Econometric Methods I (LSU) - Spring 2015
  • Principles of Macroeconomics (LSU) - Spring 2014

General Writing

A little bit of theory for everyone, check out my substack, Jan 2023.

The Need for public in public policy, The Indian Express, 23 March 2021.

Inflation tax and the Burden of Public Debt, The New Indian Express, 18 March 2021

Who pays for the wall? Farm Protests and the Budget, Indian Express, 17 February 2021.

Why is the government pushing farm laws despite so much protest?, The Pioneer, 11 February 2021

On Domestic currency denominated local government bonds, with (Shraavan Varma and Aarjav Nair), The New Indian Express, 7 February 2021

On the need for unconventional monetary policy to help local governments, Indian Express, 24 April 2020

Macroeconomic effects of the reverse migration due to COVID lockdown in India, Indian Express, 12 April 2020