Society and Culture
Defending America: The Land of Ideas
BBC News has an excellent and insightful article by Matt Frei, defending the existence of America. For every supporter, and critic of that nation, it is worth a read.
In America the idea was ragged, rough and imperfect but it kept growing, it kept evolving and, if this isn’t a vote of confidence, it kept attracting [...]
Economics and Ethics: What they don’t say about Adam Smith
While doing some research, I came across this interesting article (PDF) by Peter Ulrich, professor of business ethics at the University of St. Gallen (HSG) in Switzerland (the premier university for business and management studies in Switzerland). Written as a conversation with Adam Smith, the article brings out fabulously some of the problems with our current thinking [...]
A Talk by Mohammad Yunus: A Man Misunderstood
Today I heard a speech by Mohammad Yunus at FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) in New Delhi. He spoke for 35 minutes to a packed, standing crowd, interrupted only by the laughter of his jokes and the occasional rude cellphone.
I am compelled to write this (long) post, because I must recommend [...]
Deconstructing Narmada: Large Dams and Economics
For better or worse, the Narmada Dam is now complete. Its various NGO opponents and their star cast must now accept defeat against the economic logic of growth. And where economic logic prevails, can comparisons with China be far behind?
India’s Promise - Prospects for Indian Democracy
India is, in the words of George Soros, ‘the flavor of the month‘. Reflecting that international euphoria, we Indians seem to have developed a proclivity for self-congratulation.
An excellent article in the Harvard Magazine by Devesh Kapur (PDF at CGDev), however, is a good reality check. It brings home the real challenge for India - not [...]
Inclusive Growth and the 11th Plan
Today’s Hindustan Times has an excellent editorial on the 11th five-year plan, and the economics behind the idea of ‘inclusive growth’. It is a must read for those with even a brief understanding of economics and the link, often inverse, between growth and equity.
India: Challenge and Opportunity of a Lifetime
Last week I had the opportunity to attend three events in Delhi – the 3rd Sat Pal Mittal Memorial Lecture by Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Deputy Chair of the Planning Commission, on the 11th plan; the India-Japan Energy Forum organized by TERI and NEDO; and the London School of Economics (LSE) Asia Forum. The timing of [...]
Meager Expectations & Unmet Potential: India’s Malaise
Not a day goes by without the newspapers hailing some Indian achievement. In the eyes of the media India is already a great power. And nowhere is this self-congratulation more evident than in discussions of Delhi’s infrastructure improvements and promises of an emerging ‘World City’.
Yet, Delhi is still very far from being anything world-class and [...]
