Dealing with deprivation

The much discussed JAM (Jan-Dhan+Aadhaar+Mobile) trinity holds great promise for India, in our viewNeelkanth Mishra | Last Updated at February 6, 2017 23:05 IST (This was published in the Business Standard: link) The much discussed JAM (Jan-Dhan + Aadhaar + Mobile) trinity holds great promise for India, in our view. When everyone has bank accounts, … Read more

Vexing taxing problems

Centre-state data sharing is currently a distant dream but can be ground-breaking if implementedNeelkanth Mishra | Last Updated at January 2, 2017 23:24 IST (This was published in the Business Standard: link) Recent developments have reopened some long-running debates about our country, like of “state capacity” (how closely does the execution of a policy mirror … Read more

Cash is medieval, cards break vicious economic cycles

Cards provide better security and don’t face the problem of providing change.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: December 30, 2016 6:33:48 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) There is something medieval about cash: In providing the medium of exchange economies needed for transactions, rulers made a hefty profit converting pieces of paper … Read more

Risk and some disorder

There had been a clamour for radical reforms. Demonetisation shows what real reforms feel like.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: November 16, 2016 5:07:57 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) The announcement that currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination would no longer be legal tender brings down the currency … Read more

Fools rush in (GST)

GST is a reform long delayed. But there may be good reason not to hurry it through now.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: September 23, 2016 6:06:22 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Deadlines help. Hard ones help even more. After all, years of false starts have turned the goods and services … Read more

Paradox of plenty

Farm incomes may not revive despite good monsoon. There are new challenges for policymakers.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: August 22, 2016 2:48:19 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) India’s per capita calorie demand has been falling for at least the last 30 years. Most people do a double-take when they hear … Read more

Modi government @2: Reassess the report card

They ignore the extremely high risk of an attempt at privatisation being effectively stillborn, unacceptable to state governments.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: June 6, 2016 1:12:11 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Even after weeding out extreme opinions, of the diehard supporters and the trenchant critics, whose hard stances reduce the … Read more

The Uday plug-in

Why criticism of the Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana is misplaced and unwarranted.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: March 17, 2016 12:03:59 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) The Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana (Uday) has been the subject of much debate in the financial markets. The cost of borrowing for state governments has … Read more

The merits of fiscal prudence

By sticking to the fiscal consolidation roadmap, the Union budget has obviated instability. The focus should now be on state capitals, whose budgets need greater market scrutinyWritten by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: March 2, 2016 12:28:13 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Some are calling this a political budget. But that’s like … Read more

Why yuan matters

Indian equity markets are turbulent due to high foreign ownership and the renminbi uncertaintyWritten by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: January 28, 2016 12:00:12 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) In an article last month, ‘Lies and the Sensex’ (December 22), I had pointed to the risk of market volatility arising from the … Read more