Microeconomics, competition law, competition economics/Antitrust litigation, technology policy, digital markets and economic regulation of network industries.

I have over 30 years of experience and expertise in the field of economics and its interface with industry, infrastructure, competition and regulation. I have worked in a vast range of industries, undertaking intensive research studies, linking together the work of the competition authority, sectoral regulators and industry.  I have undertaken and led several industry studies, particularly in the infrastructure and information, technology and communication (ICT) sectors such as telecom, broadband, electricity, steel, and petroleum. The studies focus on identifying issues of market structures, regulation or other statutory frameworks, implementation of policies, and formulating strategies for development to drive efficiencies and competition in these sectors. In most of my research and consultancy projects I have uncovered the micro foundations of the industry to establish linkages between firm level innovation and growth. I have also undertaken studies on public private partnerships and private sector participation in the power and infrastructure sectors to address issues related to financing, adequate capacity and regulation. I was the economist on the team that drafted the Indian Electricity Act, 2003.

Microeconomics, Public Policy and Indian Economics

• Malik, P., Jain, N., Kanwar, S., Das, B., & Dhadwal, S. (2025). AI markets and competition in India. Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER). Https://Icrier.Org/Pdf/Ai-Markets-And-Competition-In-India.Pdf
• Malik, P., Sinha, A., & Jagadeesh, H. (2024). Navigating SEP licensing: Insights from Indian jurisprudence (Policy Brief No. 30). ICRIER. Https://Icrier.Org/Pdf/Cellular-Standard-Essential-Patents_Policy-Brief-1.Pdf
• Malik, P., Das, B., & Jagadeesh, H. T. (2024). A competition analysis of the Indian cloud computing market. ICRIER. https://icrier.org/pdf/Indian_CloudComputing_market.pdf
• Malik, P. (2023). Competition issues in India’s digital economy: Policy perspectives (IPCIDE Policy Brief No. 5). ICRIER. https://icrier.org/pdf/IPCIDE-Policy_Brief_5.pdf

• Malik, P. (2024, March). Cross subsidisation. Global Dictionary of Competition Law, Concurrences.
• Malik, P., & Sridhar, V. (December 2022). A report on the Workshop on Startup Ecosystem and Competition. Journal on Competition Law and Policy, 3, Competition Commission of India.
• Malik, P., Malhotra, N., Tamarappoo, R., & Uberoi, N. K. (2019). Legal treatment of abuse of dominance in Indian competition law: Adopting an effects-based approach. Review of Industrial Organization, 54(2), 435–464. https://www.jstor.org/stable/48702964
• Pingali, V., Chaudhuri, M. K., Malik, P., Tamara, R., Kakkar, A., Chatterjee, C., Mondal, S., & Sokol, D. D. (2016). Competition law in India: Perspectives. Vikalpa, 41(2), 168-193. https://doi.org/10.1177/0256090916647222
• Jakhu, G., & Malik, P. (2017). Dilemma in antitrust enforcement: How use of economics can guide enforcement rules in multi-sided markets. Journal of Antitrust Enforcement, 5(2), 260–275. https://doi.org/10.1093/jaenfo/jnx000

Book Chapters:

Malik, P., Chakrabarti, S., & Khan, M. (2020). Competition law enforcement in digital markets – Emerging issues and evolving responses in India. In D. S. Evans, A. Fels, & C. Tucker (Eds.), The evolution of antitrust in the digital era: Essays on competition policy (Vol. 1, pp. 253–270). Competition Policy International.

Malik, P., & Ilavarasan, P. V. (2013). Information and communications technology sector in India. In G. de Prato, D. Nepelski, & J. P. Simon (Eds.), Asia in the global ICT innovation network: Dancing with the tigers (pp. 1–22). Woodhead Publishing 

Op-Eds

• Malik, P., & Jagadeesh, H. T. (2025, February 7). Time for India to blaze the trail further on UPI: Build guardrails for data privacy. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/time-for-india-to-blaze-the-trail-further-on-upi-build-guardrails-for-data-privacy-9821824/
• Malik, P. (2024, June 25). Cloud computing for a digital economy. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/cloud-computing-for-a-digital-economy/3533829/
• Malik, P., & Jagadeesh, H. T. (2024, September 11). India’s digital public infrastructure: How to ensure healthy competition. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/indias-digital-public-infrastructure-how-to-ensure-healthy-competition-9561138/

• Malik, P., & Jain, N. (2024, February 29). AI and competition: Old wine in new bottles? Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/opinion/columns/ai-and-competition-old-wine-in-new-bottles-124022901306_1.html
• Malik, P. (2023, December 6). The secret to a better viewing experience on OTTs. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-secret-to-a-better-viewing-experience-on-otts-9056020/
• Malik, P. (2022, November 4). Protecting competition in the digital space. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/protecting-competition-in-the-digital-space/2773692/
• Malik, P. (2020, June 23). Market studies by CCI: Towards healthy competition. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/competition-commission-of-india-cci-market-studies-towards-healthy-competition/2000207/
• Shah, S. A., & Malik, P. (2016, May 7). Ignore the demagoguery: App-based taxi surge pricing. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/ignore-the-demagoguery-app-based-taxi-surge-pricing-2788102/
• Malik, P. (2015, December 4). Regulating the digital economy. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/column-regulating-the-digital-economy/174088/
• Malik, P., & Bose, A. (2015, May 1). A ‘chota recharge’ model for the internet. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/a-chota-recharge-model-for-the-internet/68376/
• Malik, P., & Bose, A. (2015, April 23). Leave the internet alone. Mint. https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/N9AQe5atN8TrfIgAe3iSRJ/Leave-the-Internet-alone.html
• Malik, P., & Bose, A. (2025, February 6). The fuss over spectrum auctions. Livemint. https://www.inkl.com/news/the-fuss-over-spectrum-auctions
• Shah, S.A., & Malik, P. (2014, October 15). Helping regulators walk the tightrope. Financial Express. https://www.financialexpress.com/archive/helping-regulators-walk-the-tightrope/1298586/
• Malik, P., & Bose, A. (2014, August 25). Strong competition as a reform. Mint. https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/tF0U4y711nBDum9CgbQdnJ/Strong-competition-as-a-reform.html
• Malik, P., & Bose, A. (2014, July 30). So many regulators. The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/so-many-regulators/
• Malik, P. (2011, March 16). Should electricity regulators promote competition? Business Standard. https://www.business-standard.com/article/opinion/should-electricity-regulators-promote-competition-111031600081_1.html
• Malik, P. (May 2010). Who can afford such whimsy? Spectrum allocation. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (January 2010). Grading the regulators. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (October 2009). A 60,000 crore scandal in spectrum allocation. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (September 2009). Let coal be green. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (August 2009). India’s mollycoddled iron men: A commentary on the state of competition in the Indian steel industry. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (July 2009). Government should not play monopoly. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (June 2019). Why doesn’t Infosys innovate? Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (May 2009). The economics of chota recharge. The Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (April 2009). All wired up: A commentary on competition in Indian electricity sector. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (April 2009). In Raja’s Raj: A commentary on the five years of the UPA government. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (January 2009). TRAI again? What ails VAS in India? Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (December 10, 2007). Read the radio signal right. Indian Express.
• Malik, P. (October 31, 2005). Rural telephony: TRAI has got it right, finally! Indian Express.
• Malik, P. (March 3, 2005). Regulation of infrastructure sectors: Moving beyond the rhetoric. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (July 10, 2004). Dial R for regulator. Indian Express.
• Malik, P. (March 2, 2004). Beauty contests must end: Spectrum allocation in telecommunications. Financial Express.
• Malik, P. (March 31, 2003). How natural are electricity distribution monopolies? Business Standard.
• Malik, P. (October 15, 2002). Making power competitive. Business Standard.
• Malik, P. (May 2001). Privatization in India by G. Ganesh. Book review. Business Standard.