The Economist's John Defterios looks at the politicization of the cow in India. He says Prime Minister Narendra Modi has weaponized it as a symbol of Hindu nationalism. This is not a deeply held belief and a genuine desire to protect the cows, but rather a political and smart, savvy way of rallying people, he says. Defterios: The only people I can see benefiting from all of this, frankly, are the politicians.
Cows are venerated in India, but precisely how intensely often depends on politics. And being venerated does not necessarily yield a pleasant life for the creatures. Economists rarely consider how policies will affect birth rates and the yet-to-be-born; we examine the thorny topic of “population ethics”. And foreign-language phrasebooks may be in decline but they maintain huge historical value.
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