Column

A package to Bihar

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The state needs a stimulus. Only the Centre can provide it.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: August 31, 2015 12:09:26 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) In a recent trip to poll-bound Bihar, a complaint we heard more than once was: “If the prime minister is so powerful, what’s he doing for … Read more

Curing the weak steel sector

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Given steel capacity in India is largely debt-funded, systemic risks emerge as banks still support weak companiesBy: Neelkanth Mishra | July 18, 2015 12:18 AM (This was published in the Financial Express: link) It is again one of those times when medical analogies become appropriate for the Indian steel industry: like any serious disease, the … Read more

Fiscal credibility deficit

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Centre’s untidy money management creates unnecessary economic volatility and impedes investmentWritten by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: July 13, 2015 2:41:54 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Before our ancestors figured out why solar eclipses happened, their “explanation” was mostly some evil creature swallowing the sun: the rakshasa Rahu in Hindu mythology, dragons … Read more

In country-sized states

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State governments cannot make cities livable. They must give urban areas freedom to manage themselves.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: May 16, 2015 12:08:55 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Exasperated with explaining the size of India to people, I now carry a map in which the country that comes closest to … Read more

States in charge

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The changing electorate and competitive federalism will be checks on their profligacy.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | March 5, 2015 12:13:23 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Have the states “grown up”? That’s the question to ask once the (well-justified) celebrations of “cooperative federalism” triggered by the government’s acceptance of the 14th Finance … Read more

India, US, and a better case for business

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The economic impact of Obama’s trip will be better understood months or years down the line. But a good start has been made.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: January 29, 2015 2:22:47 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) It would be myopic to judge the economic impact of US President Barack Obama’s … Read more

The village that could be a town

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A diffuse urbanisation is likely in India. Yet, we continue to make policies that aspire towards mega-cities.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: January 5, 2015 5:03:05 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Is India 47 per cent urban, or 31 per cent? While everyone compares levels of urbanisation between countries, few realise … Read more

Shifting to the state

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A structural change is afoot. It holds great promise for India.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: November 24, 2014 12:05:27 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Is A 1,000-employee single-city company managed the same way as a 1,00,000-employee transnational company? I recently asked this rhetorical question when an experienced foreign investor asked … Read more

Not just by hitting sixes

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So far, government has kept the scoreboard moving with singles. Written by Neelkanth Mishra | September 9, 2014 12:14:14 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Criticism is good. It keeps people on their toes. But too often, we end up measuring what can be measured easily instead of what should be measured. … Read more