BUSINESS
2021-30: Lost decade for the world economy?
We are seeing almost halving of the growth rates from 6 percent levels in 2000-09 to 3.2 percent levels in 2020-24. The share of countries with slower growth than in the previous decade has increased to 73 percent in 2010-21 from 44 percent in 2000-10
BUSINESS
From Mastercard to World Bank, Ajay Banga faces a similar set of challenges
Ajay Banga has been nominated to preside over the World Bank in trying times. Can he tilt the governance of the Bretton Woods institutions towards emerging and developing economies?
BUSINESS
IFSCA has its work cut out. Will it be an effective regulator?
The task of the International Financial Services Centre Authority is tougher, as it is a unified authority which is supposed to look at all markets whereas the other regulators were established to govern a specific segment of India’s financial markets
BUSINESS
Budget 2023-24: Government continues to heavily promote GIFT City and the returns are showing
Since 2018, GIFT City has featured prominently in every budget speech and received lavish investments. Broad trends suggest the government’s bets are beginning to pay off
BUSINESS
Past Economic Surveys put it best: Private investment is India’s best growth mantra
Despite the challenging global economy and next year’s general elections, Economic Survey must prod government to open up further
BUSINESS
Recession worries seem to have replaced inflation concerns
A global slowdown will impact the Indian economy. But that impact will be limited compared to other countries as the Indian economy is driven by local consumption
BUSINESS
2023 unlikely to be just a boring year for central banks
Central banks will have to deal with multiple challenges in the new year and stay focussed on achieving their objectives
BUSINESS
States’ financial position needs to be watched as much as the Centre’s
While the aggregate financial position of states looks manageable, the finances of many individual states look weak
BUSINESS
Government, RBI caution on cryptocurrencies has served India well
While the exact number of cryptocurrency investors and the scale of investments in India is not clear, in all likelihood the Indian investor community has not faced the brunt of crypto meltdown as have the investors in other countries
BUSINESS
Six years after demonetisation: Strengthen RBI governance
One of the top priorities of the government should be to ensure that the RBI’s central board functions at full strength, especially now, when central banks the world over face multiple challenges
BUSINESS
CBDC | The economic Nobel Prize could not have come at a better time for banking
The intersection of ideas between the Nobel Prize and the RBI concept note cannot just help understand today’s banking challenges, but also be in reckoning for future Nobel prizes as well
BUSINESS
Banking | History can help while banning digital lending apps
Just like it happened in the past, we are back to times when we are seeing the mushrooming of entities and apps offering lending (and forex facilities)
BUSINESS
Digital Lending | RBI must crystallise its guidelines towards a digital banking regulation Act
The new Act should bring all the entities on a common platform, and analyse how the different entities engage in digital banking and digital banking products
BUSINESS
Jackson Hole | US Fed reiterates its focus on price stability
Jerome Powell’s comment on the three policy lessons from the past means that the US Fed will have to continue to keep interest rates high to fight inflation
BUSINESS
Privatisation of India’s public sector banks is like Waiting for Godot
The government needs to decide and act on PSB privatisation, which has been pending for a while now. If it does not want to privatise, it should make its stand clear
BUSINESS
The US Inflation Reduction Act: more politics than economics
The country has a history of such initiatives going awry. They have not worked in the past, and inflation has continued unabated
BUSINESS
Green is the new colour of Indian Banking
While Indian banks are aware of the risks they face because of climate change, they are not prepared for the same
INDIA
USD vs INR | India’s macroeconomic fundamentals are strong
An appreciating US Dollar has given most global currencies a beating. The Indian Rupee is still standing
BUSINESS
RBI takes a major step towards internationalising rupee
The policy does not imply that we will see an immediate transition from USD to INR-based invoicing. It will at best be a gradual process. Policymakers can start by encouraging INR payments with neighbouring South Asian countries and other trade partners
BUSINESS
How real is the risk of stagflation in India?
Even if we escape stagflation this time around, there is still a risk of facing high inflation and subdued growth as has been the case for most part of India’s macroeconomic history
BUSINESS
Banking | Creative destruction of existing models will pose new challenges for regulators
The core function of banking will remain, but the way we understand a bank in terms of branches and bank officers, is going to change forever
BUSINESS
Payments | UPI takes the credit
UPI is increasingly becoming a super payment interface, shaking the payment ecosystem which was controlled by private banks and the payment duopolies
BUSINESS
Entry barriers for banking licence in India are high… very high
It is also not clear what it takes to get a bank licence in India. In the recent list of rejections, not much is said about why the applications are rejected
BUSINESS
NSDL | Ushering India’s stock market through the digital era for 25 years
This year, the NSDL launched a blockchain-based market platform to manage and monitor the security and covenants related to issuance of bonds. This will further uphold transparency and strengthen the confidence in the stock market
