Shruti Rajagopalan in Project Syndicate’s Forward Thinkers list

Indian American researcher listed among 30 global voices shaping the future of public discourse and progress

By Arun Kumar

Shruti Rajagopalan, an Indian American researcher, figures in the Project Syndicate’s Forward Thinkers list recognizing and spotlighting intellectual innovators poised to shape international debates in the years ahead.

The list brings together 30 influential voices from academia, policymaking, civil society, and the private sector, according to the international nonprofit media organization celebrating its 30th anniversary.

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“These individuals tackle a wide range of critical issues, from climate change and geopolitics to the future of capitalism and the health of liberal democracy,” it stated describing each participant as “a leader in their field, and we believe their insights will not only shape public discourse within their respective countries but also have a growing impact on the global stage in the years to come.”

“As the world grapples with escalating economic and political upheavals, fact-based commentary and analysis are more vital than ever,”  Project Syndicate wrote. “As old orthodoxies are called into question, there is a growing demand for new voices capable of challenging established wisdom, providing insight into evolving technologies and economic trends, and countering misinformation.”

“Very honored to be included in @ProSyn’s Forward Thinkers list,” posted Rajagopalan on X, “To mark their 30th anniversary they highlight 30 global voices shaping the future of public discourse and progress.”

Rajagopalan, a fellow at the Classical Liberal Institute at New York University School of Law, is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, where she leads the Emergent Ventures India program, and Innovation Fellow at Schmidt Futures. She is the host of the podcast Ideas of India and writes about Indian political economy and culture on Substack at Get Down and Shruti.

Before joining the Mercatus Center, Rajagopalan was an Associate Professor of Economics at State University of New York, Purchase College. She earned her Ph.D. in economics from George Mason University. She has a BA (Hons) Economics and LL.B. from University of Delhi; and an LL.M. from the European Masters in Law and Economics Program at University of Hamburg, Ghent University, and University of Bologna.

Rajagopalan’s broad area of interest is the economic analysis of comparative legal and political systems. Her research interests specifically include law and economics, public choice theory, and constitutional economics. Her research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, law reviews, and books.