R. Shashi Kumar is Professor in the Department of Economics, Bangalore University, India. He is also serving as Director, Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy, Bangalore University, Bangalore. He has made contributions to international monetary economics and agricultural economics by planning, design and development on the national and international levels. He also contributed several research papers in academic journals, conferences, workshops and seminars. He is having academic acquaintances with universities and research institutes around the world. Shashi Kumar has written on growth, trade, development, institutions, energy, the World Trade Organization, and intellectual property. At present, he is engaged in research on economic integration, fragility and civil society.