Welcome to ASARC

The Australia South Asia Research Centre (ASARC) was established as an initiative of the The Arndt-Corden Division of Economics through the Strategic Development Fund of the Institute of Advanced Studies, and with financial assistance from the Department of Employment, Education and Training. It was inaugurated in April 1994 by a past-President of India, His Excellency Dr KR Narayanan.

Countries in South Asia comprise India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Maldives.

The Centre is dedicated to research on the economics and politics of development in the South Asia region.

ASARC Inauguration
L to R: Prof Deane Terrell (then Vice Chancellor of ANU), Sen Gareth Evans (then Minister for Foreign Affairs), and
H. E. Dr K R Narayanan (then Vice-President of India)

• to study the economic development and political economy of South Asia, particularly of India, taking into account Australia's national interests, and the dynamics of economic cooperation and interaction in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions
• to provide a focus for scholarly interest across disciplines in South Asia throughout The Australian National University
• to develop a database on the South Asian economies
• to establish research linkages with South Asian research and teaching institutions, and with Australian institutions with research interests in South Asia
• to establish and maintain consultative links with South Asian governments, the Commonwealth Government of Australia and its agencies (particularly AusAID and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade), the Australian business community and its organisations, and with significant non-government organisations
• to disseminate the findings of research work throughout the community. The Centre publishes a series on South Asia within the Economics Division Working Papers
• to undertake training activities on South Asian economics particularly at postgraduate level. Currently Professor Raghbendra Jha and Professor Prema-chandra Athukorala are concentrating on issues of financial sector reform and anti-poverty policy as well as the political economy of health care in India.