Publications

(a) Books

1. S. Janakarajan, L. Venkatachalam and R. Maria Saleth (Eds.) (2015) Indian Economy in Transition: Emerging Issues and Challenges-Essays in Honour of C.T. Kurien, Sage Publications, New Delhi.
2. L. Venkatachalam (Ed.) (2007). Environment, Sustainable Development and Human Well-Being, MIDS Publication, Chennai.

(b) Journal Articles

1. Jafar K., Karthick, V, Gargi Sridharan and Kripa Ananthpur and L. Venkatachalam (2025). Economic Ripple Effects of COVID-19: A District-Level Panel Analysis of Jobs and Income in Tamil Nadu, India, Journal of Quantitative Economics.  Vol. 23, Pages -1233 -1257. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40953-025-00473-7.
2. Thomas, A. M., L. Venkatachalam & K., H. (2025). Introduction to the Special Issue on the History of Economic Thought. Review of Development and Change, 30(1_suppl), S5-S9. https://doi.org/10.1177/09722661251335419.
3. Venkatachalam, L. (2025). Environmental Economics and Ecological Economics: Historical Evolution and the Current Status. Review of Development and Change, 30(1_suppl), S25-S49. https://doi.org/10.1177/09722661241309458.
4. Jafar, K, Kripa Ananthpur and L. Venkatachalam (2023). ‘Digital divide and access to online education: New Evidence from Tamil Nadu, India’, Journal of Social and Economic Development, 25: 313 – 333. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40847-023-00236-1

5. Begum, Zreena I., Venkatachalam and S. Jayakumar (2020). ‘Ecological Health Assessment of the Ousteri Wetland in India through Synthesizing Remote Sensing and Inventory Data’, Lakes and Reservoirs, 25(1): 84–92. https://doi.org/10.1111/lre.12300

6. Kumar, Lalit., Manjula Menon, Ramachandra Bhatta, Venkatachalam, D Suresh Kumar, P Indira Devi, Pranab Mukhopadhyay (2019). ‘Doubling India’s Farm Incomes Paying Farmers for Ecosystem Services, Not Just Crops’, Economic and Political Weekly, LIV (23): 43 – 49. https://www.epw.in/journal/2019/23/special-articles/doubling-indias-farm-incomes.html

7. Manjula, Menon, Venkatachalam, Pranab Mukhopadhyay and Lalit Kumar (2019). ‘Ecosystem Approaches for Revitalizing Agriculture in India’, Current Science, 116(5):1– 5. https://doi: 10.18520/cs/v116/i5/723-727
8. Venkatachalam, L and Kulbhushan Balooni (2018). ‘Payment for Ecosystem Services to Sustain Kudimaramathu in Tamil Nadu’, Economic and Political Weekly, LIII (6): 21–23.https://www.epw.in/journal/2018/6/commentary/payment-ecosystem-services-sustain-kudimaramathu-tamil-nadu.html
9. Venkatachalam, L and Kulbhushan Balooni (2017). ‘Water Transfer from Irrigation Tanks for Urban Use: Can Payment for Ecosystem Services Produce Efficient Outcomes?, International Journal of Water Resources Development, 34 (1): https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1342610
10. Indira Devi, P., Lalit Kumar, D. Suresh Kumar, Manjula M, Pranab Mukhopadhyay, P. Raghu, Devinder Sharma, R. Sridhar and Venkatachalam (2017). ‘Payment for Ecosystem Services: Guaranteed Farm Income and Sustainable Agriculture’, Economic and Political Weekly, 72 (17):12–14. https://www.epw.in/journal/2017/17/commentary/payment-ecosystem-services.html
11. Venkatachalam, L (2017). ‘Emerging Environmental Issues and Sustainable Development: An Overview’, Review of Development and Change, 21 (2): 1– https://doi.org/10.1177/0972266120160201
12. Venkatachalam, L and Jayanthi M (2016). ‘Economic Valuation of Wetland Ecosystem Services: A Contingent Valuation Approach’, Review of Development and Change, 21 (1): 89 – 110. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972266120160105
13. Balooni, K and L. Venkatachalam (2016). ‘Managing Water for Sustainable Development: An Indian Perspective’, Society and Management Review, 5 (1): vii–xiii. https://doi.org/10.1177/2277975215625500
14. Bahinipati, C. S. and Venkatachalam (2016). ‘Role of Climate Risks and Socio-Economic Factors in Influencing the Impact of Climatic Extremes: A Normalisation Study in the Context of Odisha, India,’ Regional Environmental Change, 16 (1): 177 – 188. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10113-014-0735-4
15. Bhide, Shashanka, Venkatachalam and M. Vijayabaskar (2015). ‘Promises and Challenges in India’s Manufacturing Sector: An Overview’, Review of Development and Change, 20 (2): 3 –14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972266120150201
16. Venkatachalam, L (2015). ‘Environmental Implications of the Manufacturing Sector: A Case Study of Textile Manufacturing in Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, India’, Review of Development and Change, 20 (2): 165 – 175. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972266120150208
17. Bahinipati, C, S and Venkatachalam (2015). ‘What Drives Farmers to Adopt Farm-level Adaptation Practices to Climate Extremes: Empirical Evidence from Odisha, India’, International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 14 (4): 347 – 356. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2015.08.010
18. Biswas, Durba and Venkatachalam (2015). ‘Farmers’ Willingness to Pay for improved irrigation water-A case study of Malaprabha Irrigation Project in Karnataka, India,’ Water Economics and Policy, 1 (1): 1450004-1 – 1450004-24. DOI: 10.1142/S2382624X14500040
19. Venkatachalam, L (2015). ‘Informal Water Markets and Willingness to Pay for Water: A Case Study of Urban Poor in Chennai City, India’, International Journal of Water Resources Development, 31 (1): 134 – 145. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2014.920680
20. Kumar, Dinesh M., Nitin Bassi, M V K Sivamohan and Venkatachalam (2013). ‘Agriculture in West Bengal: Can the New Policies Trigger a Second Green Revolution?’ Review of Development and Change, 18 (1): 37–51. https://doi.org/10.1177/0972266120130103
21. Venkatachalam, L and A. Narayanamoorthy (2012). ‘Estimating Economic Value of Irrigation Water Through Contingent Valuation Method: Results from Bhavani River Basin, Tamil Nadu’, Indian Journal of Agricultural Economics, 67 (3): 308 – 315. DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.204814
22. Venkatachalam, L (2011). The ‘Hidden Failure of ‘Successful Institutions’: The Case of Community Management of Common Pool Resources (CPRs)’, Economic and Political Weekly, 46 (31): 103 – https://www.epw.in/journal/2011/29/special-articles/hidden-failure-successful-institutions-community-management-cprs
23. Venkatachalam, L (2008). ‘Role of Information on Water Quality in Influencing Household Behaviour: A Case Study in a Peri-urban Context’, Journal of Urban Policy, 3 (2): 7 –
24. Venkatachalam, L (2008). ‘Behavioural Economics for Environmental Policy’, Ecological Economics, 67 (4): 640 – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2008.01.018
25. Venkatachalam, L (2008). ‘Theories of Failure, Failure of Theories and Non-Market Valuation: A Survey’, International Journal of Ecological Economics and Statistics, 11 (S08): 114–133. https://books.apple.com/mt/book/theories-failure-failure-theories-non-market-valuation/id512780751
26. Venkatachalam, L (2007) ‘Environmental Economics and Ecological Economics: Where They Can Converge?’ Ecological Economics (Elsevier), 61(2-3): 550–558. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2006.05.012
27. Venkatachalam, L (2006) ‘Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in Urban Water Supply Sector: Some Issues’, Journal of Urban Policy, 1 (2): 7–
28. Venkatachalam, L (2006). ‘Factors Influencing Household Willingness to Pay (WTP) for Drinking Water in Peri-Urban Areas: A Case Study in the Indian Context’, Water Policy, 8 (5): 461 – 473. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2006.055
29. Venkatachalam, L (2005). ‘Damage Assessment and Compensation to Farmers: Lessons from Verdict of Loss of Ecology Authority in Tamil Nadu’, Economic and Political Weekly, XL (15): 1556 – 1560. DOI: 10.2307/4416473
30. Venkatachalam, L (2004). ‘Sources of Government Failure and the Environmental Externality: Analysis of Groundwater Pollution in Tamil Nadu, India’, Water Policy, 6 (5), October pp: 413 – 426. https://doi.org/10.2166/wp.2004.0027
31. Venkatachalam, L (2004). ‘The Contingent Valuation Method: A Review’, Environmental Impact Assessment Review (Elsevier), 24(1): 89 – 124. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0195-9255(03)00138-0
32. Venkatachalam, L (2003). ‘Designing Contingent Valuation (CV) Surveys for Estimating Use Values: Some Experience from a Case Study of a Water Supply Project’, Journal of Social and Economic Development, 5 (2): 267–284. https://ideas.repec.org/a/sch/journl/v5y2003i2p267-284.html

(c) Chapters in Edited Books

1. Kavi Kumar K S and Venkatachalam (2026). ‘Ecology and Environment’, Ch-9 in: Economic Survey of Tamil Nadu 2025-26, State Planning Commission, Government of Tamil Nadu.
2. Venkatachalam, L (2024). ‘Economic Valuation of Ecosystem Services: Current Status and the Way Forward’, In: Pinaki Chakraborty and K R Shanmugam (Eds.). Fiscal Policy and Public Financial Management, Oxford University Press, Oxford/International ( 299 -316), https://doi.org/10.1093/9780198930464.001.0001
3. Venkatachalam, L (2022). ‘Reforms in the Agriculture Sector in the Post–COVID-19 Era’, In: P. G. Babu (Ed.). Economic Policy in COVID-19 Times, Orient BlackSwan, Hyderabad, PP: 55 – 65.
4. Durairasu P and Venkatachalam (2022). ‘Environmental Reforms in Tamil Nadu after COVID-19’, In: P. G. Babu (Ed.). Economic Policy in COVID-19 Times, Orient BlackSwan, Hyderabad, PP: 97 – 113.
5. Venkatachalalm, L and M. Vijayabaskar (2017). ‘State Profile’ In: Tamil Nadu Human Development Report 2017, Government of Tamil Nadu and Academic Foundation, New Delhi.
6. Biswas, D and Venkatachalam (2016). ‘Economic Analysis of Irrigation Institutions: A Case Study’, In: K R Shanmugam and K S Kavi Kumar (Eds.). Environment and Development: Essays in Honour of Dr. U. Sankar, SAGE Publisher, New Delhi, pp: 267 -291.
7. S. Janakarajan, L. Venkatachalam and R. Maria Saleth (2015). ‘Indian Economy in Transition: Context and Overview of Issues’, In: S. Janakarajan, L. Venkatachalam and R. Maria Saleth (Eds.) Indian Economy in Transition: Emerging Issues and Challenges-Essays in Honour of C.T.Kurien, Sage Publications, New Delhi, pp: 1 -17.
8. Venkatachalam, L. (2015). ‘Market-Based Institutional Reforms for Water Allocation in India: Issues and the Way Forward’ In: S. Janakarajan, L. Venkatachalam and R. Maria Saleth (Eds.) Indian Economy in Transition: Emerging Issues and Challenges-Essays in Honour of C.T.Kurien, Sage Publications, New Delhi, pp: 259 -275.
9. Nambi, A.A., R. Rengalakshmi, M. Madhavan and Venkatachalam. (2014). ‘Building Urban Resilience: Assessing Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture in Chennai, India’. In: Padgham, J. and J. Jabbour (eds.). United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Nairobi, Kenya.( http://www.start.org/upa/chennai.pdf).
10. Kumar, Dinesh M., Nitin Bassi, MVK Sivamohan and Venkatachalam (2013). ‘Breaking the Agrarian Impasse in the Eastern India’ In: Dinesh Kumar, Nitin Bassi, A. Narayanamoorthy and M V K Sivamohan (Eds.). The Water, Energy and Food Security Nexus: Lessons from India for Development, Routledge, London, pp: 143 – 159.

11. Venkatachalam, L (2013). ‘Water Issues and Sustainability: Addressing Current Vulnerability for Minimising Future Risks’, In: D. Janagam, S. Rajendran, A. Saravana Durai, A. Sugirtha Rani and V. Vaithianathan (Eds.). ‘Environmental Challenges of 21^st Century, Periyar University Press, Salem, pp: 66 – 76.
12. Saleth, Maria R. and Venkatachalam (2012) ‘Issues in Development Studies: An Overview’ In: Maria R. Saleth (Ed.). From Individual to Community: Issues in Development Studies -Essays in Memory of Malcolm Adiseshiah, Sage Publications, New Delhi, pp: 1-21.
13. Venkatachalam, L. (2012). ‘Economics of ‘Not’ Controlling Pollution: A Case Study of Industrial Pollution in Noyyal River Basin, Tamil Nadu, India,’ In: Sacchidananda Mukherjee and Debashis Chakraborty (Eds.). Environmental Scenario in India: Successes and Predicaments, Routledge, London.
14. Yves Saillard and Venkatachalam, L (2010). ‘Defining Public Policies Concerning Access to Drinking Water’, In: Yves Saillard and G. S. Sastry (Eds.). Access to Water in Urban Areas: Experiences in India and France, Hermes Academic Publishing, Oslo (Translated in French)
15. Venkatachalam, L with S. Vanathy (2010). Access to Drinking Water in Chennai: An Analysis of Institutional Failure’, In: Yves Saillard and G. S. Sastry (Eds.) Access to Water in Urban Areas: Experiences in India and France, Hermes Academic Publishing, Oslo (Translated in French).
16. Venkatachalam, L (with K. V. Raju) (2006). Water Resources Development and Irrigation Infrastructure in Karnataka, in Karnataka Development Report, The Academic Foundation, New Delhi.
17. Sharad Lele and Venkatachalam, L (2006). Assessing the Socio-Economic Impact of Changes in Forest Cover on Watershed Services. In: Jagdish Krishnasamy, Sharachchandra Lele, and R. Jayakumar (Eds.) Hydrology & Watershed Services of the Western Ghats (India): Effects of Land Use and Land Cover Change, Tata McGraw-Hill Publishers, New Delhi.
18. Venkatachalam, L (2005). Demand-Side versus Supply-Side Approach: The Case for Sustainable Management of Water Supply in Developing Countries − A Case Study, In: Chenoweth J and Bird, J (Eds.) Business of Water Supply and Sustainable Development, Green Management International Publisher, Sheffield, UK, pp. 238 – 250.
19. R. S. Deshpande, Venkatachalam, L. and Narayanamoorthy, A (2004). Policies for Access, Equity and Equality: Physical Resources and Human Resources. In: Sundaram, K. V., Moni, M and Jha M. M (Eds.) Natural Resource Management and Livelihood Security: Survival Strategies and Sustainable Policies, Concept Publishers, New Delhi, pp: 401 – 447.

Work Experience

• Officiating – Director, Madras Institute of Development Studies, from 21^st March 2023 to 31^st March 2024.
• RBI Chair Professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai from 28^th February 2018 to 31^st May 2026.
• Professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, from 31^st August 2015 to 27^th February 2018.
• Associate Professor, Madras Institute of Development Studies, Chennai, from 1 December 2006 till 30^th August 2015.
• Assistant Professor, Institute for Social and Economic Change, Bangaluru, from 29 August 2002 till 30 November 2006.
• Consultant-Environmental Economist on the World Bank Assisted Water Resources Consolidation Project at the Water Resources Organisation, Public Works Dept. Government of Tamil Nadu from 1^st August 2001 to 28^th August 2002.
• Research Associate at Madras School of Economics, Chennai from 1 December 2000 to 31 July 2001.
• Consultant Environmental Economist for the Environmental Economics Component of the World Bank Aided India: Environmental Management Capacity Building Technical Assistance Project in the Ministry of Environment and Forests, Government of India, New Delhi from 24 June 1998 to July 27, 2000.

Visiting/Adjunct Faculty Positions:

• Adjunct Faculty, Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, from January 2014 onwards
• Visiting Faculty, Indian Institute of Management, Amritsar, February 2017 – February 2019
• Visiting Faculty, Madras School of Economics, Chennai, from September 2007 to 2024.
• Visiting Faculty, Department of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia University,
  New Delhi, September 2016.
• Visiting Faculty, Department of Economics, Central University of Tamil Nadu, Thiruvarur, 2014 -2016.
• Visiting Faculty, Department of Economics, University of Madras, Chennai, March 2014.
• Visiting Faculty, Indian Maritime University, Chennai, 2013 –2014.
• Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chair Professor, National Chengchi University, Taipei, Taiwan, 15 September 2012 – 10 January 2013.
• Visiting Faculty, Department of Engineering Design, IIT, Chennai, September –November 2011.
• Visiting Faculty, Centre for Water Resources, Anna University, Chennai, October 2008.
• Visiting Faculty, Department of Environmental Sciences, Bangalore University, Bangalore, during 2003 – 2006.

Academic Awards/Scholarships/Fellowships

• ICSSR-NWO Visiting Fellow, Environmental Economics and Natural Resources Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands, April 2013 –May 2013.
• Fulbright-Nehru Senior Research Fellow, Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of California at Berkeley, United States of America, September 2009 – April 2010.
• Visiting Fellow, Fondation Maison des Sciences de l’homme (FMSH), Paris, France, Indo-France Cultural Exchange Programme, September- October 2007.
• Japanese Award for Outstanding Research on Development, Eighth Annual Global Development Network Conference, Beijing, China, January 2007.
• Visiting Fellow, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada, Indo-Canadian Studies Faculty Research Programme, June – July 2006.
• Visiting Fellow, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America, March – April 2004.
• MoEF Grant to attend Environmental Economics Training Course, Overseas Development Group, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom, October 1997.
• Young Scientist Fellowship, World Water Week, Stockholm, Sweden, August 1996.
• Reserve Bank of India Doctoral Fellowship: 1992-1996.
• The 42^nd All India Economics Conference Prize for outstanding performance in the subject of economic growth in M. A. Economics.
• Thiru S. R. N. Badri Rao Endowment Prize for outstanding performance in M. A. Economics.
• The Sir. J. Simson Prize for outstanding performance in M. A. Economics.
• The Sir. Nataraja Gold Medal for outstanding performance in M. A. Economics.

Area of Research

• Environmental Economics

• Behavioural Economics

• Development Economics

• Research Methodology

• Economic Theory