God’s own country inching towards a fiscal precipice. Blaming the Centre alone won’t help
Kerala’s finances require a long hard look. By all accounts, this doesn’t make for a healthy public finance management glide path
COP28: India’s green hydrogen transition to the fore
By emphasising rigorous emission standards and substantial investments in R&D, India is poised to play a major role in creation of GH2 solutions
Digital Lending: It is time to save the golden goose from the wolves
Easily accessible but predatory lending apps charging usurious rates of interest need immediate attention. A public whitelist constantly updated to keep track of every digital lending app out there and notifying RBI as a nodal regulatory agency are key first steps that can help India get cracking on a scourge that threatens to damage a sector with immense growth potential
Chart of the Day: Luxury housing props up affordability index
Sales in October 2023 are estimated to have risen by 19 percent in top seven cities
MCA seeks to shine light on hidden owners of companies
Notices have gone out to companies and their directors asking them to identify real owners of significant holdings. What changes can this bring about?
Investors in metal stocks should keep a close eye on Latin America
The region’s economic woes and difficulty in servicing debt could lead to prolonged pressure on metal prices
Is a hedge fund more than its founder?
The alternative asset management industry has long grappled with a succession and longevity problem. Reinventing or selling the business at least beats fast-tracking it to a historical entry in Wikipedia
An Indian perspective on dealing with ethical dilemmas in cutting-edge technology
By embracing ethical technology and product development, Indian companies can set new standards in responsible innovation, building a sustainable and trustworthy tech ecosystem. This balance will not only enhance their global competitiveness but also ensure that the technology serves the greater good, aligning with India's ethos and values
Irrational exuberance and central banks
We do not know whether irrational exuberance has led to high equity or home prices in India. However, we know that psychological sentiments are fuelling the Indian stock and housing markets. Both RBI and SEBI are acting and cautioning against this exuberance
How technology has changed the way one applies for IPOs
If one example is to be cited of technology revolutionising a particular business and keeping pace with investor requirements, it is the stock market. In earlier decades, the IPO process was not only cumbersome and time consuming, but also full of tension for the investor, because the onus of monitoring progress from application to receipt of physical shares was with him
Telangana Elections 2023: Failure to create adequate jobs troubles KCR
A young Dalit woman contesting as an Independent while foregrounding the issue of joblessness and what it does to the aspirations of the poor are getting attention in her constituency, across the Telugu-speaking states, and on social media. Are increasingly vocal youth disillusioned by the current growth paradigm a sign of where Telangana and Indian politics are headed to?
It’s time scientists admitted their COVID mistakes
Some public health agencies took years to admit what had quickly become obvious: that the COVID virus was airborne. Others suggested extreme precautions, which had minimal benefits or were hard to implement. Rebuilding trust is not just about clearer, more persuasive communication but also admitting to mistakes
Why India can and should play honest broker in Bangladesh
India must mediate before the situation goes out of hand and radical elements like jihadi outfits start filling the vacuum left by a failing state. An understanding between the ruling and opposition parties to allow smooth conduct of election is key to putting Bangladesh back on the rails
Blockchain may hold the answer to fixing a $2.2 trillion FX risk
After 50 years of trying to speed up cross-border money exchange, technology may have an answer. Completing timed settlement in the existing architecture is fraught with friction but customers are increasingly demanding near instantaneous international transactions just like they do within their national borders
Stockology: Stars favour the bulls. Will Nifty test 20,000 this week?
Choppy movement and internal data reading suggest a fall seems imminent and investors should be prepared to invest at around 19,300 within 13 days
Reservation For Locals: Whither jobs, economic freedoms, and economic unity?
No sooner than the Haryana law mandating 75% private reservation for local residents was struck down, comes a draft Kerala IT policy with incentives to investors offering jobs for locals. Amid a festering jobs crisis and governments having no qualms in interfering in business, may better economic sense prevail.
Cash Before Cricket: Monetising frenzy, the spirit of the game be damned
Income shouldn’t be the parameter a good game of cricket is premised on. The sport should, ideally, symbolise the principle of striving, and promote values such as fairness and grace among all its stakeholders, the audience included.
Rajasthan Elections 2023: How the Modi factor helped BJP campaign tide over weak state leadership
To press home the attack against Congress on minority appeasement, law and order failures, corruption, and mindless welfarism without a clear focus, BJP needed PM Modi to lead the attack from the front and present an alternative developmental vision. No other leader in BJP has a similar connect with voters or could have delivered these messages with crystal clarity.
Telangana Elections 2023: BRS-Congress duel boils down to whose welfarism is better
The state’s economy is much like one of its favourite dishes: Potlakaya Pulusu, having its sweet and sour spots. So the fight is essentially for voters not benefitting from Telangana’s economic growth, as both BRS and Congress go overboard promising them welfare sops. One question remains: Can KCR extract mileage from Telangana formation for one more term?
The Reading List: November 24, 2023
These links may be from external websites we frequent or shared by people we follow on social media
State Capex: Glass one-third full
To meet the capex target for FY2024, the capital outlay and net lending of the 21 states would have to expand by an estimated 28 percent YoY, which appears challenging in light of the Assembly elections in some states and the parliamentary elections in 2024
Investors dump dollar in bet that US rates have peaked
Asset managers sell greenback at fastest pace in a year as market prices in more rate cuts next year
OpenAI turmoil exposes threat to Microsoft’s investment
Satya Nadella’s bet on AI start-up destabilised by shock sacking of Sam Altman
Right-Wing Shift: Don’t be in a hurry to declare the dark ages
Right-wing leaders have won popular mandate through a recognised electoral process, and represent public opinion. They cannot be dismissed as political demons. But what’s missing is an honest dialogue between the silent majority and justifiably vocal minorities and recognition by right-wing leaders and their supporters that the economic and climate crises need global more than national responses
Weakening rupee is a much-needed shot in the arm for Indian exports
A weak currency does not necessarily mean a weaker economy. In fact, a weak rupee supported by good quality products, can actually boost exports despite global slowdown and attract investments into India
