Ronald Kumar

Biography

Dr. Ronald Kumar is a Senior Lecturer in Economics at RMIT University Vietnam. He brings more than a decade of academic, research, and industry experience across economics, finance, and development studies.

Prior to joining RMIT University Vietnam, Dr. Kumar served at the University of the South Pacific (USP), Fiji, for over ten years, progressing through a range of academic leadership roles including Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer, Lecturer, and Adviser for the Banking and Finance Program within the School of Accounting and Finance. He began his academic career in 2011 as a Teaching Assistant in the School of Economics at USP, where he taught courses in microeconomics, macroeconomics, economic statistics, and development economics before transitioning to finance and banking education.

 

Before entering academia, Dr. Kumar worked as an Economist at the Reserve Bank of Fiji and as a Project Analyst with ANZ Pacific Operations. From January 2019 to May 2022, he served as Associate Professor in the School of Accounting and Finance at USP, contributing significantly to teaching, research, curriculum development, and postgraduate supervision.

 

Teaching

Dr. Kumar has extensive teaching and course coordination experience across economics, finance, and banking disciplines. His teaching portfolio includes:

Economics

• Microeconomics
• Macroeconomics
• Business Statistics
• Development Economics

Finance

• Financial Mathematics
• Investment Analysis
• International Finance
• Corporate Finance
• Development Finance

Banking

• Banking Management

His teaching philosophy emphasizes analytical thinking, practical application of economic and financial theory, and evidence-based decision-making in contemporary business and policy environments.

 

Research

Dr. Kumar's research lies at the intersection of economics, finance, and development studies. His work explores the drivers of economic growth and development, with a particular focus on developing economies and small states. Drawing on both theoretical and empirical approaches, his research is strongly informed by contemporary growth theories and development economics.

His major research interests include:

Tourism Economics

Research examining the economic impacts of tourism development, sustainability, and tourism-led growth.

Selected publication outlets:Tourism Management, Tourism Economics, Tourism Management Perspectives, Tourism Analysis, Applied Economics, Social Indicators Research, Metroeconomica, Economies, and Journal of Asia Pacific Economy.

 

Migration and Remittances

Research focusing on labour mobility, remittance flows, and their implications for economic development.

Selected publication outlets:Quality & Quantity, Economic Systems, International Migration, Applied Economics, African Journal of Economic and Sustainable Development, and International Review of Economics.

 

Energy and Economic Growth

Research investigating the relationship between energy consumption, renewable energy, and economic development.

Selected publication outlets:Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Energy Policy, and Journal of Oil, Gas and Coal Technology.

 

Technology, Innovation, and Economic Development

Research exploring digitalization, technological advancement, innovation, and productivity growth.

Selected publication outlets:Telecommunications Policy, Economic Change and Restructuring, and Quality & Quantity.

 

Peace Economics

Research examining the economic dimensions of conflict, peacebuilding, and social stability.

Selected publication outlets:Defence and Peace Economics, Journal of Economic Studies, and Singapore Economic Review.

 

Pensions and Demographic Economics

Research focused on population ageing, pension systems, demographic transitions, and economic sustainability.

Selected publication outlets:Journal of Pension Economics and Finance, Metroeconomica, and Panoeconomicus.

 

Investment and Banking Sector Analysis

Research related to financial markets, banking performance, risk management, and investment behaviour.

Selected publication outlets:Journal of Risk and Financial Management, Accounting Research Journal, Risks, PLOS ONE, Quality & Quantity, and Physica A.

 

Market Structure and Macroeconomics

Research examining competition, industrial structure, and macroeconomic performance.

Selected publication outlets:Annals of Economics and Finance, Metroeconomica, Sustainability, Journal of Economics, and Bulletin of Economic Research.

 

As of January 2026, Dr. Kumar's research impact is reflected in an h-index of 24 on Scopus and 35 on Google Scholar, demonstrating a strong international scholarly presence across economics and finance disciplines.

 

Professional Service and Memberships

Dr. Kumar is actively engaged in the international academic community through editorial leadership, professional memberships, and scholarly service.

 

Professional Memberships

• Member, Post Keynesian Economics Society (since 2024)
• Member, Australian Economic Society (since 2024)
• Regular Member, CFA Institute (2021-2025)

 

Editorial and Academic Service

• Editorial Board Member, Green Finance (AIMS Press), 2019-present
• Guest Editor, Journal of Risk and Financial Management (2019-present)
• Guest Editor, Special Issue on Financial Development and Economic Growth, Journal of Risk and Financial Management (2020-2022)
• Guest Editor, Sustainability (2019-2020)
• Associate Editor, Journal of Pacific Studies, University of the South Pacific, Fiji (2018-2020)

 

Through his research, teaching, and professional engagement, Dr. Kumar contributes to advancing knowledge in economics, finance, and development, with particular emphasis on policy-relevant research for developing economies and small island states.