Swaminathan S. Anklesaria Aiyar is a prominent Indian journalist, economist, and speaker, hailed as “India’s leading economic journalist” by Stephen Cohen of the Brookings Institution. His expertise is rooted in a long career at the forefront of financial journalism, where he edited India’s two biggest financial dailies and served as the India correspondent for The Economist for two decades. He is currently a Consulting Editor for The Economic Times and a Research Scholar at The Cato Institute.
Aiyar’s insights are highly valued for their deep knowledge of economic change in developing countries, political economy, and trade. His popular weekly column, “Swaminomics,” is a critical voice in the public discourse, with his best essays compiled in his book, Escape from the Benevolent Zookeepers. A graduate of Oxford University, he has also been a frequent consultant to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, providing his expertise on international finance and policy.
Beyond his media and consulting roles, Aiyar is a committed social investor. He runs the Mukundan Charitable Trust and is actively involved in building a fleet of medical boats on the Brahmaputra River to deliver essential services to the thousands of isolated islands. He also co-promoted three micro-finance institutions and serves on the board of Artisans Micro Finance Ltd., aiming to empower artisans to become share-owning millionaires.
As an eloquent speaker and TV commentator, Aiyar provides audiences with a comprehensive and objective analysis of global and Indian economic trends. His presentations cover critical issues such as energy, trade, and industry, equipping business leaders and policymakers with the strategic context needed to navigate the complexities of economic liberalization, civil strife, and political economy in the Asian region.
