Sisira Sarma’s interest in economics began as a young boy, while shopping for fresh fruits and vegetables in his hometown of Berhampur in India.
When Sarma visited the supermarket, he took interest in the changing prices.
“Sometimes I would see the price being four times higher than the day before,” said Sarma. “Immediately, I could relate how the prices affected my shopping behaviour.”
Today, sitting in his office at The University of Western Ontario, Sarma, 39, explained how his past experiences made him realize economics was more than supply and demand.
It was the study of human behaviour, says the associate professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
For his research project, Sarma is using economic theory to see why Canada is facing a shortage of family physicians.
“I want to investigate if there has been a change in the way family physicians are working, and the amount of hours they spend seeing patients compared to other things, like research, administrative work, and leisure activities.”
Sarma hired a graduate student to assist with his research after receiving an SSHRC International Research Award in October. He began by looking at the ways family physicians are working.
“I want to see if their activities are being influenced by the way they’re being paid.”
“He’s very, very focused in his work,” said Sarma’s wife, Swati. “He cares about the knowledge and not the money … I really like that about him.”
Sarma said he always concentrated on his work, even as a high school student back in India.
“I always worked to come in the top of my classes. It’s what I liked to do.”
In 1991, Sarma completed his undergraduate and master’s degree in economics at the University of Berhampur. At the age of 23, he moved to New Delhi to do a second master of economics at Jawaharlal Nehru University.
After graduating in 1995, Sarma worked as a research officer for the provincial government in New Delhi for two years.
“I didn’t like that job that much,” said Sarma. “If you work 10 days a month, there’s no work left to do for the rest of the month… and I wanted to do my PhD.”
In 1999, Sarma received a scholarship from the government of India to do his PhD at the University of Manitoba. He packed his bags, said farewell to his parents, and headed west.
Six years later, armed with a PhD, Sarma started working as an economist at Health Canada in Ottawa in 2005. A year later, he went back to India to find a bride.
Sarma met his wife, Swati, through his family and they were married in Orissa, India.
She describes her wedding as being “a traditional Hindu wedding with lots of rituals,” explaining how the main ceremony involved a priest chanting holy verses in front of a sacred fire in her house.
After their honeymoon, the couple temporarily parted because of Sarma’s work. Ten months later, Swati received her visa, and joined her husband in Ottawa in October 2007.
This past summer, the couple moved to London when Sarma started working at Western.
On the weekends, the two take time out of their busy schedules to watch movies and shop together.
“We especially enjoy our grocery shopping, because we get time to spend together,” said Swati.
But when not shopping, Sarma enjoys hitting the gym, cycling, and watching cricket matches.
He said, “After marriage life is so hectic, and my wife wants to go back to India soon. Maybe this summer we’ll go for a short vacation.”
Preferences
Favorite South Indian dish: Masala Dosa
Nachos with Salsa or Cheese? Salsa
Last movie seen (at time of interview): Hindi movie “Rangeela”
Favourite novel: Small is Beautiful by E.F. Schumacher
Second Cup or Starbucks? Starbucks
Favourite drink: red wine
The writer is a graduate student studying Journalism. This feature – IN PROFILE: New Faculty – spotlights recently arrived faculty at Western.