Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi

What Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi does

Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) is a semi-autonomous public sector research institution established in 1973 within the University of Karachi, Pakistan. Designated by the Higher Education Commission as the Institute of National Capability in Applied Economics in 2016, AERC's mandate spans four functions: policy-oriented core and academic research, contract research for external clients, post-graduate teaching, and advisory services to government. Its core offerings include an MPhil leading to PhD program in Applied Economics (introduced 1977), the Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics (PJAE) — an internationally refereed bi-annual journal — plus research report and discussion paper series covering urban economics, agriculture, public finance, poverty, health, gender, trade, and environment.

The Centre operates a research methodology based on primary data collection through surveys conducted by a permanent core of trained enumerators (all holding Master's degrees in Economics or Statistics) and secondary data analysis using a well-equipped computer centre. Its library holds over 30,000 books and 200+ journal subscriptions, and the institution has completed more than 40 large-scale survey studies. Faculty comprises 30+ full-time economists with PhDs and MPhil degrees from leading US, British, and other foreign universities, with concentration in applied econometrics, monetary economics, public finance, trade, gender, and development economics.

AERC's revenue model combines government allocations and HEC support (as a tax-exempt public sector institution), fee-based contract research for federal and provincial governments and international donors (World Bank, ADB, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, FAO), tuition from MPhil and PhD programs, and subscription revenue from PJAE and publication series. Customer segments include federal and provincial governments (primary), international donor agencies (primary), graduate students in economics (primary), national academic institutions, and academic boards and commissions. Recent MOUs with Meezan Bank (Islamic economics), Ataleeq Foundation (social sector), and SDG Support Unit Sindh UNDP (SDG research) indicate modest vertical and partner diversification within a fundamentally public-sector-funded operating model.

Name

Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi

Legal name

Applied Economics Research Centre

Website

https://aerc.edu.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1973

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) is a public sector research institution within the University of Karachi, designated as Pakistan's Institute of National Capability in Applied Economics. It conducts policy research, contract research for government and multilateral donors, post-graduate economics teaching, and advisory services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Economic Research and Policy Advisory Services

NAICS

Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services (54), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169), Public Administration (92)

SIC

Services-Engineering, Accounting, Research, Management (8700), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Economic Research, Statistics & Policy Advisory (BPADAMAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Policy, Regulatory & Public Affairs Research (BPAHALAF), Public Sector & Policy Consulting (BPAHACAN), Research Administration & Compliance (Sponsored Programs, IRB/REB) (EDADAKAH)

Keywords

• Applied economics research
• Policy advisory services
• Graduate economics programs
• Academic journal publishing
• Economic survey services

Headquarters

HQ city

Karachi

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Contract Research Services: Contract research conducted for government clients, provincial governments, local government agencies, and international donor agencies. The Centre provides research reports, analysis, and policy recommendations for a fee.
2. Academic Programs: Post-graduate teaching programs (MAS, MPhil, PhD) with tuition and fee structure for enrolled students.
3. Publication Revenue: Revenue from publishing the Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics (PJAE), a bi-annual internationally refereed journal, research report series, and discussion paper series.
4. Government Funding: As a public sector institution under the University of Karachi, funded by government allocations and HEC support. Exempted from paying income tax.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

AERC conducts policy-oriented core and academic research, contract research for government and international clients, post-graduate teaching (MPhil and PhD programs in Applied Economics), and advisory services to federal and provincial governments. It publishes the Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics (PJAE), research report and discussion paper series, and conducts primary data collection through large-scale surveys.

Product overview

Applied Economics Research Centre (AERC) is an academic research institute at the University of Karachi offering a portfolio of educational programs, research outputs, and advisory services. The core offerings include the MPhil Leading to PhD Program in Applied Economics, the Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics (PJAE) as its flagship peer-reviewed journal, Discussion Paper and Research Report series covering multiple economics sub-disciplines, Policy Advice services to government bodies, and the Pakistan Society of Applied Economists (PSAE) for professional networking. Additional programs include the SDG Research & Resource Centre, Young Economist Conference, and AERC Book Club. AERC serves as the Institute of National Capability in Applied Economics as designated by the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• MPhil Leading to PhD Program in Applied Economics
• Pakistan Journal of Applied Economics (PJAE)
• Contract Research Services
• Discussion Paper Series
• Policy Advisory Services
• Research Report Series
• SDG Research and Resource Centre

Quantifiable outcome

• Conducted over 40 large-scale survey studies involving data collection within Pakistan and abroad

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Meezan Bank LimitedcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025MOU signing between AERC and Meezan Bank Limited to support research in Islamic economics and banking sector studies.
• Ataleeq FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024MOU signing between AERC and Ataleeq Foundation to collaborate on research and development activities in applied economics and social sector development.
• SDG Support Unit Sindh UNDPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 February 2024MoU signing ceremony between Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi and SDG's Support Unit Sindh UNDP for collaborative work on Sustainable Development Goals research.
• World BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development partner providing funding and research mandates for urban development, poverty studies, and economic analysis projects.
• Asian Development BankmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional development finance institution partnering on research projects related to education, health, and regional development in Pakistan.
• UNICEFmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN agency for child welfare partnering on Third Party Validation and Multiple Indicators Cluster Survey (MICS) in Sindh.
• UNDPmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Development Programme supporting SDG research and development initiatives through the SDG Support Unit Sindh.
• USAIDmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS government development agency funding research projects on economic development, employment, and macroeconomic modeling.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves2 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE):

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/applied-economics-research-centre-university-of-karachi

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Applied Economics Research Centre, University of Karachi