The Seen and the Unseen - hosted by Amit Varma

In recent times, the GDP has become less of an economic measure and more of a political tool. Economist Rajeswari Sengupta joins Amit Varma in episode 130 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain what the GDP is, what it is good for, what it is not good for and what the fuss over this figure in India is all about. This episode has immeasurable value. Also check out: Rajeswari Sengupta's writings. GDP – A Brief but Affectionate History -- Diane Coyle Gross Domestic Problem -- Lorenzo Fioramonti The Power of a Single Number -- Philipp Lepenies This episode is powered by Storytel: https://www.storytel.com/in/en/ Use the link storytel.com/ivm to get a 30 day free trial as opposed to a 14 day free trial. You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Like cricket and cinema, the annual budget brought out by the central government has become a national obsession. Vivek Kaul. the Shah Rukh Khan of Economics, joins Amit Varma, the Govinda of Podcasting, in episode 129 of The Seen and the Unseen to demystify the budget. Much fun is had. Blockbuster guaranteed. Also read: The Sholay Redux -- Vivek Kaul Easynomics: Why high-income tax hurts -- Vivek Kaul How ₹1.7 trillion has gone missing -- Vivek Kaul The State of Our Farmers -- Episode 86 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Gunvant Patil) DeMon, Morality and the Predatory Indian State -- Episode 85 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shruti Rajagopalan) All Hail Public Choice Theory -- Episode 121 of The Seen and the Unseen India's Lost Decade -- Episode 116 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Puja Mehra) Economics in One Lesson -- Henry Hazlitt (free pdf link) The Law -- Frédéric Bastiat Marginal Revolution University  You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Chinmay Tumbe, an economic historian and author of "India Moving," discusses the intricate history of migration in India. He uncovers how migration shapes identity and belonging, and the cultural impacts it has, particularly on women and communities. The conversation traces historical migration patterns, urbanization, and the complex societal dynamics resulting from these movements. Tumbe also addresses contemporary shifts, like North to South migration and climate change effects, revealing how migration continues to influence India's socio-economic landscape.

Indian history is wild fun. Historian Manu Pillai joins Amit Varma in episode 127 of The Seen and the Unseen to regale him with stories from his latest book. The subjects discussed include caste, gender, narrative manipulation, mad elephants and men blown out of cannons. Also check out: The Courtesan, the Mahatma and the Italian Brahmin -- Manu Pillai The Deccan Before Shivaji -- Episode 98 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Manu Pillai) When Gandhi was Mohandas -- Episode 104 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha) Being Mahatma -- Episode 105 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Ram Guha) The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Can India ever be a sporting nation? What will it take to get there? Joy Bhattacharjya, who started up Kolkata Knight Riders, brought the u-17 Football World Cup to India and is CEO of the Pro Volleyball League, sure thinks so. He joins Amit Varma in episode 126 of The Seen and the Unseen to share his passion and vision for Indian sport. Also check out: Bindra's Wishlist (2005) -- Amit Varma Opportunity, Choice and the IPL (2008) -- Amit Varma The IPL is Here and Here Are Six Reasons to Celebrate It (2019) -- Amit Varma Netherland -- Joseph O'Neill You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Ajay Shah, an economist specializing in financial reform, joins to clarify the crucial role finance plays in economic progress. He discusses how finance isn't merely a gambling casino but a fundamental driver of innovation and growth. Ajay explains how stock prices signal industry shifts and how venture capitalists respond to market indicators. He emphasizes the importance of finance in improving agricultural decisions and shaping long-term investments, while also addressing the complexities of market regulation and the challenges in India's financial system.

What is the role of religion in Indian society? What is conservatism like in India? Suyash Rai joins Amit Varma in episode 124 of The Seen and the Unseen for a wide-ranging free-wheeling chat on these subjects. Also check out: The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- Episode 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) What is Libertarianism? -- Episode 117 of The Seen and the Unseen (w David Boaz) You're From the Mutton Lobby -- Episode 49 of The Seen and the Unseen (Amit Varma solo, on our political discourse) Every Act of Government is an Act of Violence -- Amit Varma The Three Languages of Politics -- Arnold Kling ये लिबरल आख़िर है कौन? -- Episode 37 of Puliyabaazi (w Amit Varma on Hayek) Ayodhya: The Dark Night -- Dhirendra K Jha and Krishna Jha Sacred and Secular -- Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart A Godless Congregation -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

As the recent sexual harassment case indicates, all is not well with the Supreme Court of India. Constitutional economist Shruti Rajagopalan joins Amit Varma in episode 123 of The Seen and the Unseen to explain why the Supreme Court has gone wrong on both ends of the tradeoff between Independence and Accountability. Also read: Justice Is Dead, Long Live the Justices -- Shruti Rajagopalan Imagine No Possessions -- Episode 26 of The Seen and the Unseen Fixing Our Judicial System -- Episode 62 of The Seen and the Unseen Ek Baar Jo Maine Commitment Kar Di -- Amit Varma Where Have All the Leaders Gone? -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Elections in India are madly complex, and defy simple explanations. Sadanand Dhume joins Amit Varma in episode 122 of The Seen and the Unseen to discuss the Age of Modi, and what these elections mean for India, the BJP and the Congress party. Also check out: Sadanand Dhume's bio and archives The Questions That Election 2019 Leaves Us With -- Amit Varma Beware of the Useful Idiots -- Amit Varma Amit Varma's writings+podcasts on DeMon, in one twitter thread The Intellectual Foundations of Hindutva -- ep 115 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Aakar Patel) Modi's Lost Opportunity -- ep 119 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Salman Soz) The BJP's Magic Formula -- ep 45 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Prashant Jha) Rajesh Jain's Journey to Dhan Vapasi -- ep 94 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Rajesh Jain) The Paradox of Narendra Modi -- ep 102 of The Seen and the Unseen (w Shashi Tharoor) Why Both Modi and Trump are Textbook Populists -- Amit Varma You can listen to this show and other awesome shows on the new and improved IVM Podcast App on Android: https://ivm.today/android or iOS: https://ivm.today/ios

Governments consist of people, and people respond to incentives. For this reason, there is no better way to understand government than through the tools of economics. Episode 121 of The Seen and the Unseen is a rerun of an old episode of The Pragati Podcast, in which Amit Varma introduces Pavan Srinath to the mindblowing insights of Public Choice Theory. Also check out: What Does It Mean to Be Libertarian? -- ep 64 of The Seen and the Unseen Public Choice: A Primer -- Eomonn Butler Politics Without Romance -- Amit Varma's monthly column on Public Choice for Bloomberg Quint Parkinson's Law -- C Northcote Parkinson The Calculus of Consent -- James Buchanan and Gordon Tullock Bureaucracy and Public Economics -- William A Niskanen Urban Governance in India -- ep 31 of The Seen and the Unseen Restaurant Regulations in India -- ep 18 of The Seen and the Unseen Of Endings and Beginnings -- Amit Varma's goodbye editorial for Pragati