Pankaj Vashisht

Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations

Papers

Total Citations

H-Index

About

Pankaj Vashisht’s research sits at the critical intersection of automation, labor economics, and industrial policy, with a sharp focus on the future of employment in India’s garment sector. His most cited work, “Automation and the Future of Garment Sector Jobs in India” (2020, 7 citations), and its companion case study (2019, 2 citations) examine how innovations like the “Sewbot” and Computer Numeric Control machines are reshaping production processes and threatening jobs in a labor-intensive industry. Vashisht argues that these technologies are not distant possibilities but immediate risks, raising urgent questions about skill displacement and economic resilience. By grounding his analysis in India’s specific context, he provides a vital counterpoint to global narratives of automation, showing how developing economies face unique vulnerabilities. His work is especially notable for its timely, policy-relevant insights—he doesn’t just document change but warns of its consequences, making his research essential reading for students and scholars of labor studies, development economics, and technology policy. With a growing citation footprint, Vashisht is emerging as a key voice on how automation will transform work in the Global South.