Research Project: Dispute Resolution, Infrastructure & FDI
Engagement: Part-time / Project-based
Location: Remote / Hybrid
Duration: 6–12 months initially
Reporting to: Author / Research Lead
Domain: Economics | Public Policy | Infrastructure | Construction | FDI | Dispute Resolution
About the Project
We are developing a research-driven book examining how the effectiveness of dispute resolution in construction and infrastructure projects influences investor confidence, project economics, cost of capital and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).
The book will explore the proposition that:
Better dispute resolution is not merely a legal or contractual reform—it can be an economic and public-policy instrument for attracting long-term infrastructure investment.
The project will combine economic analysis, public policy, infrastructure experience, international comparisons, case studies and practitioner insights.
We are looking for an Economist / Research Associate who can also contribute substantially to the writing of the book.
Key Responsibilities
1. Economic Research
• Research the relationship between dispute resolution, contractual certainty, investment risk and FDI.
• Examine how dispute-related uncertainty affects:
Cost of capital
Risk premiums
Project IRR
Investment decisions
Project financing
Project delays and economic value
• Develop an economic framework connecting:
Dispute Risk → Perceived Investment Risk → Cost of Capital → Project Viability → Investor Confidence → FDI
• Identify and analyse relevant economic literature and empirical studies.
• Develop quantitative indicators/models where appropriate.
2. Public Policy Research
• Study India’s infrastructure contracting and dispute-resolution ecosystem.
• Analyse relevant laws, policies, regulations, government contracts and institutional mechanisms.
• Research reforms relating to:
Arbitration
Adjudication
Dispute Boards
Contract enforcement
Government procurement
PPP frameworks
Infrastructure financing
Investor protection
• Identify policy gaps and develop practical reform recommendations.
3. International Comparative Research
Study selected jurisdictions and compare their approach to infrastructure disputes and investment confidence.
Potential jurisdictions include
• Singapore
• United Kingdom
• Australia
• UAE
• Saudi Arabia
• Hong Kong
• Netherlands
• Other relevant infrastructure-investment destinations The analysis should focus on:
Research and develop detailed case studies involving:
• Roads and highways
• Metro projects
• Ports
• Airports
• Power projects
• Urban infrastructure
• Industrial infrastructure
• PPP projects
• Large EPC projects For each case study, examine:
• Nature of the dispute
• Contractual issue
• Financial impact
• Time impact
• Resolution mechanism
• Duration of resolution
• Impact on project economics
• Impact on government/public finances
• Lessons for future projects
5. Data & Evidence
• Identify reliable datasets on:
FDI
Infrastructure investment
Arbitration
Contract enforcement
Project delays
Construction disputes
Cost overruns
Infrastructure financing
• Build databases and evidence tables.
• Analyse trends and correlations.
• Distinguish carefully between correlation and causation.
• Ensure all major claims in the book are supported by credible evidence.
6. Book Writing & Editorial Contribution The selected candidate will be expected to contribute directly to the manuscript.
Responsibilities may include
• Preparing chapter outlines
• Writing first drafts
• Developing case studies
• Preparing literature reviews
• Converting technical research into accessible narratives
• Developing charts, frameworks and conceptual models
• Editing and fact-checking chapters
• Maintaining references and source documentation The objective is to make the book academically credible but accessible to policymakers, investors and infrastructure professionals.
Candidate Profile
Essential
• Master’s degree or higher in:
Economics
Public Policy
Development Economics
Finance
Infrastructure Economics
Related discipline
• Strong research and analytical capability.
• Excellent written English.
• Ability to undertake independent literature and policy research.
• Ability to interpret economic and financial data.
• Robust long-form writing skills.
• Ability to convert complex economic concepts into clear, compelling narratives.
Preferred
Experience or academic exposure to one or more of:
• Infrastructure economics
• FDI
• Development economics
• Public finance
• PPPs
• Construction economics
• Arbitration/dispute resolution
• Infrastructure finance
• Contract economics
• Regulatory economics
• Public procurement
• Government contracting
Experience with India-focused policy research will be an advantage.
Technical Skills
Preferred familiarity with
• Excel
• Statistical analysis
• R / Stata / Python
• Data visualisation
• Literature-review tools
• Academic research databases
• Policy research and report writing
• Citation/reference management
Strong analytical thinking is more important than mastery of any particular software.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for someone who can ask questions such as:
Why does a construction dispute that appears to be a ₹100 crore contractual issue potentially create a much larger economic loss?
and then develop an evidence-based answer.
The ideal candidate should be able to move comfortably between:
Economics ↔️ Public Policy ↔️ Infrastructure ↔️ Contracts ↔️ Investment ↔️ Writing The candidate should be curious, intellectually rigorous and willing to challenge assumptions rather than simply compile information.
Expected Deliverables The Research Associate will progressively contribute to:
1. Research framework
2. Literature review
3. India infrastructure dispute database
4. International comparative analysis
5. Infrastructure dispute case studies
6. FDI/investor-confidence framework
7. Economic models and conceptual frameworks
8. Policy recommendations
9. Chapter drafts
10. Fact-checking and references
11. Final manuscript development
Ideal Candidate A strong fit could be:
• Economics PhD scholar
• Public Policy PhD / doctoral researcher
• Economics / Public Policy master’s graduate
• Research Fellow at a policy institution
• Economist working in infrastructure/finance
• Former consultant with strong economic research and writing capability
• Academic researcher interested in infrastructure and development
We are particularly interested in candidates who can combine rigorous research with the ability to write for a non-academic audience.
Why This Project?
This is an opportunity to contribute to a research-driven book examining a relatively underexplored question:
Can better infrastructure dispute resolution become an instrument for attracting FDI and accelerating economic development?
The project aims to bridge the gap between construction practice, economics, law and public policy and develop practical recommendations for India’s infrastructure ecosystem.