Economist · Stanford University
Research Fellow, Hoover Institution
PhD in Economics, Clemson University
I study how institutions shape innovation, the movement of knowledge, and the adoption of technology.
My research connects skilled migration and entrepreneurship with university technology transfer, public policy, and AI governance.
About my work
I am a Research Fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, working with the State and Local Governance Initiative. I received my PhD in Economics from Clemson University in 2025.
My doctoral research examined how international experience shapes entrepreneurship and innovation in India. My current work extends this interest in knowledge circulation to university intellectual property policies, the governance of AI, and economic measurement. I also work with NAAMII in Nepal on AI and society.
01 / Research
Applied economics, original data, and institutional analysis.
I link startup profiles, founders’ education and employment histories, and patent records to examine innovation among local, returnee, and mixed founding teams. The paper studies how international experience and local knowledge come together within entrepreneurial firms.
Developed from my doctoral research at Clemson University.
University technology transfer
How university intellectual property policies communicate ownership, disclosure, and commercialization responsibilities. I use a historical policy corpus and computational text analysis to study institutional differences.
This working paper develops a Policy Communication Index. Related projects examine changes in policy definitions and the relationship between communication, inventor–administrator coordination, and technology-transfer outcomes.
AI governance
With I. Giri and R. N. Shrestha. Survey evidence from professionals in Nepal on trust, perceived risk, and expectations of accountability across institutional settings.
The study uses original survey data from 343 professionals across eight sectors. It examines sectoral differences in trust and the role of accountability expectations in AI adoption. Future work extends these questions to comparative institutional settings.
AI & economic measurement
With Tiancheng Wang. Using public employee pension choice as an application, we examine how language models can help identify the structure of survey measures and distinguish beliefs from constraints.
“AI-Assisted Economic Measurement from Surveys: Evidence from Public Employee Pension Choice” develops an iterative framework for examining survey instruments. Validation and the interpretation of the resulting measures are central to the project.
Regulation & digital markets
With K. R. Bhatt and I. Giri. We examine how U.S. securities enforcement is followed by changes in the location of initial coin offering activity.
Ongoing projects
Skilled mobility and career pathways
Education, employment, and return migration between India and the United States.
Time to Major Decision in Federal Innovation Programs
Administrative processes in SBIR and STTR.
Capital Continuation in the Full Spectrum of Private Markets
Startup fundraising and follow-on capital, with P. Basnet.
02 / Selected publications
Cogent Economics & Finance
Digital Finance · With P. Basnet and K. R. Bhatt
Agricultural & Environmental Letters
Applied Economics Letters
Economics Bulletin · With R. N. Shrestha
Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development · With B. Goswami
03 / Teaching
My teaching rests on mutual learning, practical relevance, and learning from mistakes.
I connect economic concepts to everyday decisions and public policy. Through discussion, visual explanations, and opportunities to revisit errors, I help students develop the confidence to reason independently.
शिक्षामूलं धर्मः
Education is the foundation of righteousness.अध्ययनं सर्वधर्मानां मूलम्
Learning is the root of all virtues.Two Sanskrit expressions that inform the values I bring to the classroom.
I have taught macroeconomics and money and banking at Clemson University, and intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics at Kathmandu University. My developing teaching interests include public policy, the economics of innovation, technology policy, and AI governance.
Student evaluations · Clemson
Money and Banking · Fall 2023
Macroeconomics · Spring 2023
Macroeconomics · Fall 2022
Reported overall averages. Courses and evaluation instruments differ.
Fall 2021 · Clemson Undergraduate Student Senate
“Professor Krishna encouraged us to join the class discussion even if we weren’t sure if we were right.”
Student evaluation · Money and Banking, Fall 2023
From the classroom
04 / Public writing
Essays on institutions, technology, and economic development.
The Kathmandu Post · 2026
The Kathmandu Post · 2025
The Himalayan Times
Ask about my work
A guide to my research and teaching, with prepared answers and links to the source materials.
Have another question? Email me ↗I study how institutions shape innovation, the movement of knowledge, and the adoption of technology. My work connects skilled migration and entrepreneurship with university technology transfer, public policy, and AI governance.
My doctoral research at Clemson examined how international experience shapes entrepreneurship and innovation in India. My job-market paper links startup profiles, founders’ education and employment histories, and patent records to study local, returnee, and mixed founding teams.
My research examines trust and accountability in AI adoption using survey evidence from professionals in Nepal. A separate project with Tiancheng Wang studies AI-assisted economic measurement using public employee pension-choice surveys. These projects ask how institutions shape the use and interpretation of AI.
I have taught macroeconomics and money and banking at Clemson, and intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics at Kathmandu University. My developing teaching interests include public policy, the economics of innovation, technology policy, and AI governance. My approach emphasizes mutual learning, practical relevance, and learning from mistakes.
My CV, research statement, teaching statement, and diversity and mentoring statement are available on this site. For manuscripts, research discussions, or academic opportunities, please email ksharma3@stanford.edu.
05 / Contact
For research, teaching, and academic opportunities:
ksharma3@stanford.edu