Makes learning feel effortless and fun.
Fair, constructive, and always motivating.
A true role model for academic success.
Encourages questions and exploration.
Always kind, respectful, and approachable.
Jaai Parasnis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Economics at Monash Business School, Monash University. Her research lies in the field of applied microeconomics, particularly migration, fertility, and gender gaps. She investigates inequalities based on migration and gender, focusing on their causes and consequences for fertility, skills, and labour market outcomes in Australia and India. Policy-relevant topics in her work include the role of immigration in Australian labour markets and the influence of gender-related preferences on occupational choices, such as why women become teachers while men do not. She belongs to research groups HEELP and DeHiPE and has led projects including 'Tolerance of Uncertainty & Ambiguity (ToU/ToA): Identifying mechanisms for integrating this critical Future Education skill into higher education', 'Lightboards everywhere', and 'Graduate Teacher Labour Supply Considerations'. Her expertise relates to UN Sustainable Development Goals on gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice and strong institutions.
Parasnis has an extensive publication record, with key works such as 'Occupation–Education Mismatch of Immigrant Women in Europe' (Social Indicators Research, 2023), 'Gender, socioeconomic status, and numeracy test scores' (Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 2024), 'Unemployment and crime in India: does economic activity matter?' (Applied Economics, 2025), 'Why do women become teachers while men don't?' (2021), 'Do Immigrants Save Less than Natives? Immigrant and Native Saving Behaviour in Australia' (2013), 'Discouraged workers in developed countries and added workers in developing countries? Unemployment rate and labour force participation' (2014), 'The asymmetric role of crime in women's and men's labour force participation: Evidence from India' (2021), and 'Peers and fertility preferences: An empirical investigation of the role of neighbours, religion and education' (2017). She serves as Director of Learning and Teaching in the Department of Economics, teaches units including Introductory Macroeconomics (ECB1102) and others, and accepts PhD students. Parasnis has received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching, Faculty Teaching Awards, Department Teaching Awards, and is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA).