Overall, I think the previous comments are quite unfair. I didn't do that well in Prof. Kasliwal's class but, guess why? I didn't work all that hard. Prof. Kasliwal isn't the easiest professor in the world, his tests require a lot of study time and can be a bit ambiguous but I really felt that if I had put much more time into reading the book and studying I would have done much better. I thought his book was fairly well-written and whenever I had a question he was happy to answer. I also enjoyed his lectures and thought his "cynical humor" was rather amusing. So my advice would be to not get scared off by all the bitter students' comments and give his class a shot. And if you want to do well: do the reading and study study study.

Foolish I was to disregard these people's comments and still took his class. His lectures seem harmless enough, rambling on and on about his opinions which drone half the class to sleep. But the worst part about this professor isn't his mundane language and cynical jokes, but rather his grading. He has a grader who grades the homework. Then before he hands them back, he calls out the names on the paper to see who is going to claim it. Some people are lucky and just receive their mercy low score while others whom he dislikes gets the following reply, "Oh wait, I have to keep yours and make more 'adjustments'". And then we you get it back you find your new score a few points lower than what the grader had. Whatever happened to consistency and respecting the grader's decisions? To take it a step further, even his integrity may be questioned for wanting to change these scores after he sees who's collecting them rather than the moment he gets them from the grader. This happens on homeworks, midterms and will probably see its day on the final.

Kasliwal: You have some issues, because you can't demand and expect respect from us just because you are a professor, that's earned and you've done a much poorer job trying to earn it than the students who flunk your class.

Econ Department: If Kasliwal is an embodiment of what you think an Economics professor should be there is serious reconsidering to be done. This professor has left numerous students bitter about his class and I'm sure it is to have an effect on their interest of the subject. Judging from his intellect, I can't see how he can be a good researcher and obvious from these reviews he is a failure as a professor. Why do you keep him?

Students: Save yourselves the torment of thinking hardwork translates into success, for not even intellectuals can do well in his class. His grading is all subjective and depends on whether or not you like him. If you must take it, and I don't see how you wouldn't a choice to, but if you do, kiss his ass and take lots of caffeine before you walk in the room. That is the only way. Sorry, but I feel it had to come to this. Of the 4years I've been here, Kasliwal is the only professor who's managed to leave such a sour and bitter feeling in my mind.

A truely horrible man that either doesn't care
or has an agenda against the students.
I only wish I could rate this man below a zero, because professors within 3 points of his rating are thousands of times better. I read the reviews and still took the class thinking he can't be that bad, I was wrong. Heed the warnings.

A DISASTER.
One of the few econ classes that i didnt like.
There are many professors that i didnt like here at ucla but KASLIWAL takes the prize. PARI,my friend we, the students, pay your wage...show some effort ok ?? and respect.

This guy is a horrible professor, who has no sympathy for those concerned with 9/11. NEVER take him unless you want to work hard and barely get a C. He is heartless and does not care about students at all.

This guy defines the idea of vague. Although I haven't recieved my grade yet I have never had so much trouble figuring out what this guy wanted to hear. The questions make no sense, and he chooses not to explain them. He grades harshly, and puts the curve at a C+ average, basically, more than half the class gets C's. I think I figured out why such interesting material is constantly putting me to sleep, its because there is no PUNCH LINE. As with the book (that he wrote) there is no real conclusion or final statement on the idea. He states an idea, gives you pro/cons but he doesn't connected the pros/cons to the idea very well, it almost turns into rambleing.
Its not his fault, its the way he thinks. Unfortunantly, its us he's grading, so it affects us. This was a horrible, horrible experience.