Economic Perspectives Freebie phobia: The BJP’s concerted attack on redistributive transfersC.P. ChandrasekharAlthough the BJP is against ‘freebies’ in principle, in practice it has been forced to use a version of concessions and transfers to counter the oppos
Economic Perspectives Inflation leaves world economy in disarrayC.P. ChandrasekharInflation has been accelerating over the past few months. And supply levels and price trends are signalling imminent crises in global energy and food
Economic Perspectives Climate finance: A costly dodgeC.P. ChandrasekharThe burden of climate finance must be shared fairly. But, in the context of the work being done by the IPCC, developed countries talk of measures such
Cover Story: Sri Lanka's worsening crisis Inherited problems that led to Sri Lanka’s economic crisis C.P. ChandrasekharThe Sri Lankan crisis has been intensified by the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. However, the government’s attention is focussed on its foreign exch
Economic Perspectives The fragility of contemporary capitalismC.P. ChandrasekharThe Ukraine situation is having unexpected economic consequences, such as an explosion in nickel prices, and a prolonged war could be catastrophic for
Economic perspectives Financial markets at a turning point as inflation looms largeC.P. ChandrasekharHigh inflation in advanced economies is forcing central banks to go back on their unconventional monetary policies. It also spells trouble for emergin
Economic Perspectives Union Budget 2022-23: Government reduces spending on welfare, sticks to conservative fiscal stanceC.P. ChandrasekharThe Narendra Modi government choosing to stick with its regressive fiscal agenda in an election year sends out a clear message: it places all its bets
Economic Perspectives The 'pretend nationalisation' of Vodafone India C.P. ChandrasekharThe Modi government’s acquisition of a 35.8 per cent stake in Vodafone India is part-nationalisation that supports a set of well-heeled private teleco
Economic Perspectives Co-lending: Another bonanza for private capitalC.P. ChandrasekharThe recent State Bank of India-Adani Capital co-lending scheme to help farmers is not only loaded in favour of Adani Capital but also appears to facil
Policy and economic recovery Engineered setback: Government's COVID response aggravates economic crisisC.P. ChandrasekharThe COVID-induced devastation and the state’s tepid response have enhanced the severity of the current economic crisis and official claims of a V-shap
Economic Perspectives End of an era of cheap money? C.P. ChandrasekharAcross the world, there is a sense of apprehension about the economic future owing to signs of inflation and a readjustment of monetary policy in adva
Economic Perspectives The gaping holes in climate financeC.P. ChandrasekharThe claim that private capital is “available” to help countries meet their climate change goals not only diverts attention from the problem of inadequ
‘Fursat’: When big directors wield the small phone One only wishes that Vishal Bhardwaj’s film had come with the whisper of a story that moved us, too.