rajrishieco Courtesy: Ravindraboopathi/Wikimedia Commons
10 April 2014

Inadequate economic manifestos

What do the manifestos of the three main parties say about India’s economic challenges – managing inflation, reviving investment growth, and handling the fiscal and current account deficits? To address the country’s serious economic slowdown, these must be the three priorities for the party that comes to power

Credit Rating Agencies Courtesy: Jeremy Edmunds/Flickr
20 March 2014

A new house for sovereign ratings

Efforts to reform credit rating agencies after the 2008 financial crisis have failed to address concerns about their ability to assess a nation’s financial status. Issues like private interests and a disregard for the diversity of development models have made it imperative to think of a new multilateral agency

Arg_Pesos_2014 Courtesy: alex proimos/Wikimedia Commons
13 March 2014

Going downhill: Argentine economy

With a devaluing peso, a low trade surplus, high inflation, and falling foreign exchange reserves, the economic situation in Argentina is bleak. But the government can overcome the crisis by changing policies, lessening controls, exploring the country’s shale gas reserves, and working on settling its debt

g20 Courtesy: G20 Taskforce, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
25 February 2014

RBI and G20: Time to recalibrate?

After 2008 the G20 framed guidelines for emerging economies to coordinate their financial actions with the developed world. But the US’s backtracking created havoc in many countries. Now, after the recent G20 meeting, it may be time for the RBI to reconsider some financial measures, which India took in good faith

aseanindia Courtesy: Prime Minister's Office
31 January 2014

India-ASEAN’s elusive services FTA

The India-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement in services and trade will allow India to leverage its competitive offerings in IT, finance, among other fields. But the pact has proved elusive so far due to the open squabbling between ministries. The deal now looks set to come through only after the new government takes over

parliament Courtesy: Shahnoor Habib Munmum/Wikimedia Commons
10 January 2014

FDI pharma policy needs unusual answers

The issue of foreign direct investment in pharmaceuticals has come under attack from many lobbies. The answers lie in the public sector or public distribution mechanisms. Addressing public health concerns without vitiating the investment climate must be one of the key priorities of the next government

rbi Courtesy: Government of India
27 December 2013

Curbing India’s dependence on FII flows

The extent of the rupee’s depreciation in 2013 demonstrates the Indian market’s dependence on overseas portfolio investments. Can developing domestic institutional bulwarks allay anxieties during similar crises? Is tapping into India’s deep pool of domestic savings, by modifying archaic regulations, an option?

michelle Courtesy: WikimediaCommons
18 December 2013

The return of the Left in Chile

The return of the Left after four years, with the election this week of Michelle Bachelet as the president of Chile, will not mean any drastic change of direction. Chile has the most stable democracy and dynamic market in Latin America, and its Left can become a model for other countries, including India