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

Lies and the Sensex

Why popular stockmarket indices are not an accurate barometer of the robustness of the Indian economy.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: December 22, 2015 12:09:36 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Headlines mislead sometimes (some would say at all times). The tyranny of the headline lies in its indispensability despite it being … Read more

At stake, in Bihar

The election results in the state will impact the Indian economy’s prospects.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: November 2, 2015 12:59:28 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) Should the ongoing Bihar elections matter to stockmarkets? A first glance at the facts suggests they shouldn’t. Bihar contributes just 3 per cent to India’s … Read more

The big bond reform

RBI raising limits for foreign investors holding government bonds is more significant than the rate cut.Written by Neelkanth Mishra | Updated: October 2, 2015 12:25:15 am (This was published in the Indian Express: link) So finally it’s done: the RBI cut rates. With inflation steadily printing lower, taking real interest rates to near record highs, … Read more