Economics Department

Department of economics was started in year 1949. Prior to 1949, the Department was combined with other social sciences like history and politics. Till 1958, the Department offered only BA degree course and MA was started in the year 1959 and the Department was elevated to the status of a Post Graduate Department

The course intends to familiarise the students with the broad aspects of social science and to gather a comprehensive view of the economy. It also aims to help students to understand the basic concepts related to the development of an economy, the role and functions of the government.

It equips the students to apply modern tools for measuring economic development and to express economic theories in diagrammatic and quantitative terms. The main objective of the course is to apply economic tools to solve the problems and suggest remedial measures. It also helps to highlight the emerging trends, issues faced by the Kerala economy and to review the structural changes of our economy. It familiarises the students economic activities taking place in financial markets. The course aims at providing and understanding the basic principles that tend to govern trade at the global level. It also helps to examine the impact of liberalisation and globalisation on the Indian economy.

Since the establishment of the department, a number of eminent personalities have worked in the department. In the initial years, Dr P.C. Alexander was a faculty of our department. Dr P.C. Alexander later become the Indian administrative service officer. He served as governor of Tamil Nadu from 1988 to 1990 and as Governor of Maharashtra from 1993 to 2002. He was also considered as a candidate for the post of President of India in 2002. He had the additional charge of Goa when he was the Governor of Maharashtra from 1996 to 98. He also was the member of Rajya Sabha presenting Maharashtra as an independent candidate from from 29 July 2 to April 2008.

Renowned economist Professor Mathew Tharakan become the first Head of the Department of Economics. He was brought to SN College from Madurai – American College by our founder Shri R Shankar. Professor Mathew Tharakan was the economic advisor to the Chief Minister of Travancore Cochin State C. Kesavan. He was appointed as the chairman of Coir Minimum Wages Committee in 1951 to 52 and also as the chairman of the Industrialisation Committee for the coastal areas of Alleppey district in 1964.