Ridwan M. Hossain
I am a PhD Candidate in Economics. I am on the 2025-2026 job market.
About
I am a Ph.D. Candidate of Economics (ABD) at Fordham University. I hold an M.A. in Applied Economics from the University of Massachusetts Boston and a B.A. in Economics from North South University. I am on the 2025-2026 job market.
My research interests include Applied Microeconomics, Development Economics, and the Economics of Education, with additional engagement in Development Macroeconomics and Public Economics. My job market paper presents a randomized controlled trial that examines how different monetary and non-monetary incentives influence individual effort and performance in a low-stakes setting.
I have taught and conducted research at Fordham University, the University of Massachusetts Boston, the National University of Singapore, and North South University. Beyond academia, I have managed donor-funded projects, contributing to project design, implementation, research, and donor reporting. My professional experience includes roles with organizations such as Cultivating New Frontiers in Agriculture, The Fred Hollows Foundation, and The Right Kind.
For more details, see my CV. I can be reached at ridwan@fordham.edu.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Teaching
Instructor Experiences (Sole Instructor for all listed courses)
- Fall 2024; Fall 2023; Fall 2022: Instructor of ECON 5700: Math Methods in Economics I (graduate level) & ECON 1200: Principles of Microeconomics (undergraduate level)
- Summer 2024: Instructor of Global Economics and International Markets (pre-college)
- Spring 2023; Spring 2024: Instructor of ECON 1200: Principles of Microeconomics (undergraduate level)
Teaching Assistant Experiences
- Spring 2022: Macroeconomic Theory II (Graduate Level); TA of Dr. Philip Shaw
- Fall 2020-Fall 2021: Tutoring Center, Fordham University
- Spring 2020: Econometrics (Undergraduate Level); TA of Dr. Patrick Kanza
- Fall 2019: Econometrics (Undergraduate Level); TA of Dr. Anne Fitzpatrick
- Fall 2019: Basic Microeconomics (Undergraduate Level); TA of Jon Millman
- Spring 2019: Basic Microeconomics (Undergraduate Level); TA of Dr. Andrew Perumal
- 2014-2015: Econometrics and Basic Microeconomics (Undergraduate Level); TA of Dr. Salma Begum
Awarded GSAS Graduate Student Council Graduate Teaching Award at Fordham University!
You can find my 2024 evaluation summary below.
Research
Job Market Paper
Motivating Students: Exploring the Effect of Incentives on Performance
Abstract: Effort is a critical input in the child's learning production function, yet there is very little evidence on how to effectively improve student effort and exam performance. This paper investigates the role of monetary and non-monetary incentives in improving student effort and performance. Specifically, students in Bangladesh were randomly assigned to receive either cash, certificates of excellence, public recognition, or nothing for their performance on a short-timed test. The cash and certificates were further randomized to be offered as "gains" or "losses". I find that all types of rewards significantly improve student effort and performance, with monetary incentives framed as gains having the largest impact. Importantly, these effects persist even after the removal of incentives. This suggests that low-cost (USD 1.75) incentives could be used to motivate children in cost-constrained low- and middle-income countries.
Working Papers
- “Competitive Preferences in Adolescents: A Validation Study Using Self-Reported and Incentivized Measures”
- “Intergenerational Impact of Extended Schooling: Evidence from Indonesia’s Unanticipated Educational Reforms”
- “Carrot or Stick: How to Improve Technology Adoption in Education?” (with Pradyumna Bhattacharjee, Subha Mani, and Meghna Sharma)
- “Generative AI in LMICs: Perceptions, Usage, and Willingness to Pay” (with Subhanil Chowdhury, Utteeyo Dasgupta, and Subha Mani)
Publications
- Sami, J., & Hossain, R. M. (2025). Remittances, democracy, and government spending in Pakistan. Economics of Transition and Institutional Change.
- Amin, S. B., & Hossain, R. M. (2017). Finance-Growth Nexus in Bangladesh? An Empirical Analysis. Asian Economic and Financial Review, 7(2), 152-163.
- Hossain, R. M., & Amin, S. B. (2022). The Effect of Capital Account Liberalization on Income Inequality, focusing on South Asia. International Journal of Economics and Financial Issues, 12(3), 121–132.
Newspaper Article
Contact
Address
New York, NY