Abstract The problem of underdeveloped investment markets has been a significant cause of concern in developing countries. In a country like India, where infrastructural projects often have long gestation periods and are subjected to high risks, they do not receive adequate investment. Asymmetric information and adverse selection emerging due to ambiguity in risk assessment lead… Continue reading The Problem of Underdeveloped Investment Markets in Developing Countries
The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment in the NALSA vs Union of India case, interpreted ‘dignity’ under Article 21 of the Constitution to include diversity in self-expression which allowed a person to lead a dignified life. Within this larger debate of dignity and access to livelihood, the right to mobility becomes crucial as it… Continue reading Trans-mobility: Moving beyond gender binaries in mobility
Long ago, I came across one of the many sharp takes on India’s license permit raj history by the erudite economist and columnist Swaminathan Aiyar. He claimed that India got rid of the license raj in 1991, but the permit raj continues to haunt us. More than three decades since we did away with the… Continue reading The License-Permit Raj Strikes Again
India’s mega-cities like Delhi-NCR, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru are no strangers to occasional flooding following heavy rains. These often rake up never-ending debates on and off social media regarding the effectiveness of municipal administrations and the callousness of cash-rich corporations. While it is an annual affair, it merits consideration for those concerned about urban space… Continue reading Getting Urban Economics Right to Make our Cities more Resilient
Introduction India is susceptible to wide scale climate change-related risks due to its various climate zones, topography, and ecosystems. The Global Climate Risk Index 2021i calls India the 7th most affected nation due to climate change. As per the State of India’s Environment in Figures 2022ii India reported 280 heatwave days (the highest in 12… Continue reading India’s Climate Change Policy: Challenges and Recommendations
I have never cheated in an exam since I was nine. It is true. Not even an ‘accidental peek’. It was something of a rule I set down for myself after a scolding from my mother. It was such an uneasy feeling to know I had done something wrong. Then when I grew up a… Continue reading A Future Policymaker’s Perspective on Ethics in Governance
After graduating from law school, I worked with an advocate in the Delhi High Court on civil and criminal matters. Questions of my own morals and ethics first struck in a professional setting when we received a new allegation of money laundering against our client. I was tasked with conducting all the due diligence, analysing… Continue reading Relevance of Ethics for Governance, Policy Making and its Limitations
The realist assumption of the world being an anarchical place and nation-states driven by self-interests is a predominant theoretical worldview in international politics and diplomacy. Historically, nation-states have always tried to augment their military and economic capabilities to achieve a balance of power with rival nation-states. Right from the invention of gunpowder to the development… Continue reading Strategic Competition in the Era of Artificial Intelligence: India and its Potential Capabilities
In the last two decades, West Bengal has undergone several transitions regarding economic reform. As a result, the demand for public funds in priority sectors such as health, infrastructure, and defence has increased unexpectedly. Further, the rate of return on investment in primary and secondary education is much higher than in higher education investment. Meanwhile,… Continue reading The Student Credit Card Scheme
On 16th July 2022, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the crowd during the inauguration of the newly built Bundelkhand Expressway in Uttar Pradesh, said that “Revdi Culture” (freebies) for votes should be done away with. He emphasized that freebies do no good for the development of the country. Debate on Revdi Culture ‘Revdi’ is… Continue reading Revdi Culture for Vote bank: A Fact-check on Economy
