Dr. Hiranya Nath explores the deep economic disparities within a rapidly changing village in Assam, India, where some have prospered while many remain trapped in poverty. Discover how the Good Neighbor Initiative mobilized neighbors to share resources and rebuild the bonds of solidarity. Hiranya K. Nath, Ph.D., is a Professor of Economics at Sam Houston State University and serves as Adjunct Faculty at the Indian Institute of Information Technology Guwahati, India. He is also a Section Editor for Economics and Econometrics at PLOS ONE. Professor Nath has held visiting positions at institutions including Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Queensland University of Technology, and Tezpur University. His research has been published in notable journals such as California Management Review, the Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, and the Journal of Money, Credit and Banking. He earned his Ph.D. in Economics from Southern Methodist University and holds degrees from the University of Delhi and Jawaharlal Nehru University. Committed to community service, Professor Nath works with rural communities in India, believing that small adjustments in his life can profoundly impact others’ lives. He is driven by the belief that life is all about living. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at