The Indian National Interest Review
Going by Koodankulam, India seems to have forgotten the lessons taught by Asoka. “When he had been consecrated eight years the Beloved of the Gods, the king Piyadassi, conquered Kalinga.… Continue reading "Democracy, Asoka and Koodankulam"
By cracking down on legal but imperfect options for the poor, we push them towards making an illegal and terrible choice. Speaking of poverty through anecdotal experience is often berated.… Continue reading "Profiles in poverty"
The challenge of making rational public policy in a democratic India. Even in advanced democracies, public policy rarely follows the textbook script. There are many competing interests whose demands need… Continue reading "India’s biggest deficit"
If India is to transition to a true knowledge economy, open access, availability and contestability of public knowledge is paramount. Building sound public policies requires robust information systems and data.… Continue reading "From open data to a culture of openness"
The security theatre of Know Your Customer requirements for financial transactions harasses honest citizens while money launderers still thrive. Opening a bank account, investing in a mutual fund, opening a… Continue reading "Don’t know your customer"
The difficulty of being good in urban India, when the entire system is designed to produce urban adharma. Nature does not give a man virtue; the process of becoming a good… Continue reading "Yatha shashan, tatha praja"
It is wrong to assume that raising the poverty line is more humane
Why are we afraid of a vigorous and open debate in India
The quality of public policy depends on the quality of information and argument
Making a democracy function is hard work---it requires commitment of time, money, and resources