Nishant Vats
Assistant Professor of Finance, Olin School of Business, Washington University
Nishant (Nish) Vats is an Assistant Professor of Finance at the Olin School of Business, Washington University in St Louis. His primary research interests lie in the areas of Finance & Development, Financial Intermediation, and Corporate Finance, with secondary interests in Macroeconomics and Political Economy. He holds a PhD in Finance from the Booth School of Business, University of Chicago and is the recipient of the Top Finance Graduate Award, 2023. His research investigates demand-side dynamics across diverse contexts. His recent work analyses how unconditional cash transfers affect credit demand among farmer-entrepreneurs, the impact of voting rights on mortgage demand, the role of banking networks in aggregating demand shocks, the mitigating effect of shadow banks on these shocks, and the influence of deposit insurance on demand for safe assets.
Recent work by Nishant Vats
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Why shadow banks beat traditional lenders in some markets but not others
In India, shadow banks do not compete with traditional banks through a single mechanism – fintech lenders use superior data technology to reach underserved borrowers in unsecured markets, while non-fintech shadow banks exploit lighter regulatory cons...
Published 09.04.26
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Guaranteed income as insurance: How safety nets in India encouraged productive investment in agriculture
In India, a guaranteed income programme acted as insurance rather than a substitute for credit, reducing downside risk for small farmers and increasing their willingness to borrow – unlocking large credit-financed gains in investment, productivity, a...
Published 13.02.26
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How expanding deposit insurance changed investor behaviour in India
In India, expanding deposit insurance coverage improved depositor welfare by reducing risk and encouraging a shift towards safer assets.
Published 06.11.25
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Political power-sharing, firm entry, and economic growth: Evidence from India
Politicians who share power impose checks and balances on each other, improving local governance and leading to better economic outcomes.
Published 25.11.22