Prof. Manisha Goel on Curiosity, Connection and the Power of Liberal Arts

Manisha Goel, associate professor of economics, approaches her work and teaching with a global perspective. That is highlighted not only in the probing discussions of her classroom but also in her research on labor economics and international trade, which spans India, the U.S. and Canada. In this conversation, Goel, who joined Pomona in 2013, reflects on what makes Pomona students stand out, the importance of humility in learning and why philanthropy is essential to sustaining College programs that bear added riches for all.

You’ve taught at several institutions. What stood out to you about Pomona when you first visited campus?

By the time I visited Pomona, I had already interviewed at more than a dozen colleges across the country and had become familiar with the standard models of U.S. higher education. But Pomona was different from the start. The conversations I had weren’t just about my resume, or answering questions to check a box. People asked thoughtful questions. They listened closely. It felt like a place where people and ideas were truly considered and valued.

I spent the whole day on campus noticing all the things that are hard to describe, but easy to feel. I just knew: This was the place for me.

You were born and raised in India, and continued your studies in Canada and the U.S. How has your international background shaped your teaching?

Growing up in India, I learned history through a local lens with little context for how global events or ideas were connected. I believed many of the challenges my country faced were unique and singular. But as I traveled for my graduate studies at the University of British Columbia, and later for my doctorate at Ohio State University, I began to see how similar issues echoed around the world. I now believe multiple truths can coexist, and that to understand a global problem and truly solve it, we must be able to hold those truths at the same time.

As a professor, what have you found sets Pomona students apart?

Pomona students have agency — they take initiative, they challenge themselves and are deeply curious. In my classroom, I keep a pulse on certain ideas that divide my students, and I create space for healthy debate. What I often see is that these students are not afraid to change their minds — and not just to shift to a new position they hadn’t considered, but sometimes move away from ideas they were once strongly attached to. That humility and thoughtfulness is where real learning begins, and it is what I see every day.

Tell us about your current research, and how does the liberal arts model influence your work?

At Pomona, I am encouraged to ask big questions, to guide students across disciplines and to design my research in ways that are responsive to the world around us. There is a level of autonomy here that is rare, and it gives me the freedom to explore what truly matters to me and my students.

My current research focuses on the impact of individuals’ social identities and networks on decisions they make for the firms they work at. It turns out that context is important in determining whether the impact is positive for the overall economy. When someone’s identity and networks play a strong role where formal institutions and market structures are already well-functioning, the overall impact is negative. On the other hand, relying on a person’s identity and networks can be particularly beneficial when institutions are weak.

Another strand of my work examines how anti-competitive practices of digital platform businesses affect other firms, consumers and workers and how existing antitrust laws can be used to rein in such practices.

You’ve received philanthropic support for your work. What role does giving play in advancing your teaching and research?

Philanthropy is essential. I’ve received two Hirsch Research Initiation Grants at Pomona, which have played a critical role in advancing my early work. I also helped launch EconText, an experimental economics lab where faculty and students collaborate at the intersection of computer science and economics. This initiative, and the opportunities it creates, would not be possible without the vision and generosity of donors. It makes a real difference — to our scholarship, to the student experience and the leader in global education that Pomona continues to be.

Make a gift to the Pomona Annual Fund and support the people and programs that spark curiosity and change the world, like Prof. Manisha Goel. If 1,500 Sagehens make a gift by June 30, Pomona’s Board of Trustees will unlock an additional $150,000 for our students.