The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

Ep 410: Shruti Rajagopalan Remembers the Angle of the Light

87 snips
Feb 2, 2025
In this engaging conversation, Shruti Rajagopalan, an acclaimed economist and public intellectual, shares her insights into the intersection of education, privilege, and economic thought. She critiques traditional educational frameworks, advocating for personalized learning experiences that nurture diverse talents. The discussion touches on the importance of critical thinking, the nuances of price communication in markets, and the role of institutional support in fostering innovation. With anecdotes and reflections, Shruti underscores the need for structural change in academia and beyond.
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ANECDOTE

A Life in Academia

  • Shruti Rajagopalan has spent her entire life in educational institutions, from pre-K to her current role at Mercatus Center.
  • Her experience blurs the lines between learning and doing economics, as she studies, teaches, writes, and interacts with regulators.
INSIGHT

Indian Education System

  • The Indian education system prioritizes selection over learning, stemming from historical needs of the British Raj and later, socialist central planning.
  • This focus on exams and memorization discourages genuine understanding and exploration of diverse interests.
ANECDOTE

Privilege and Perspective

  • Shruti Rajagopalan only realized the extent of her privileged upbringing after moving to the US and encountering diverse backgrounds.
  • Growing up, college was the minimum expectation, and intellectual pursuits like music and reading were normalized within her social circle.
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