Ideas of India

Abishek Choutagunta, a PhD in economics and an Emergent Ventures India Fellow, delves into Indian federalism and constitutional design. He discusses the controversial use of President's Rule, highlighting its misuse as a political tool. The conversation explores the complexities of local governance, issues of authority delegation, and the impact of centripetal federalism on state autonomy. Additionally, Abishek addresses the challenges of coalition governments and the implications of the SR Bommai case on political dynamics, revealing deep insights into India's governance structure.

Atanu Chatterjee, a PhD candidate in geography and lecturer, dives into the complexities of slum rehabilitation in Ahmedabad. He explores the origins of slums and the state-led in-situ rehabilitation scheme's successes and failures. Chatterjee discusses the tension between consent and coercion in housing policies and highlights the vital roles of community dynamics and governance. He critiques how slum developments can overlook resident needs, advocating for more inclusive approaches that truly empower local communities.

Steven Brownstone, a PhD candidate in economics at UC San Diego, shares his insights on agricultural mechanization in Telangana. He explores the impacts of mechanized drum seeders on productivity and labor displacement. The discussion delves into stagnant wages, women’s evolving roles in farming, and the necessity of government intervention for successful mechanization. Brownstone also addresses historical land concentration effects on current agricultural practices, emphasizing the complexities of subsidies and their implications for food security.

Deepika Padmanabhan, a PhD candidate at Yale, dives into the intricate ties between language and identity in South India. She discusses how dominant languages like Hindi and English shape the identities of regional speakers in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The conversation highlights the politics of linguistic diversity, exploring how language acts as a nation-building tool and the implications of imposed languages on local identities. Additionally, she reflects on the complexities of bilingualism and the impact of technology on language accessibility.

Sukrit Puri, a PhD candidate in political science at MIT and Elinor Ostrom fellow, dives into the entanglement of business and politics in India. He discusses how family-run firms differ from management-led businesses in their political engagement and strategic decisions. The conversation highlights the unique relationships family firms maintain with political entities, revealing distinctions in political donations and the impact of new electoral financing schemes. Puri sheds light on the broader implications of these dynamics for corporate responsibility and market behavior.

Rolly Kapoor, a PhD candidate in Economics at UC Santa Cruz, shares her groundbreaking insights on women's urban mobility and employment in India. She discusses her research on how travel buddies significantly boost women's attendance at job interviews by enhancing safety and social support. Kapoor also elaborates on the unique challenges women face while commuting, the implications for job search behavior, and the need for gender-sensitive travel policies. Her work highlights the critical connection between travel safety and female labor force participation.

Ruchir Sharma, Chairman of Rockefeller International and Financial Times columnist, dives into America's economic quandaries and the future of capitalism. He examines alarming debt levels and the pitfalls of US monetary policy. Sharma critiques the cronyism that stifles competition and discusses the fragility of 'zombie companies.' He also tackles demographic challenges, like declining birth rates, impacting growth, and contrasts India's market-driven evolution under Modi with Western approaches, offering insights into navigating fiscal crises.

Amol Agrawal, an author and economics professor at Ahmedabad University, dives into the evolution of banking in India, shedding light on both colonial and post-colonial influences. He discusses the unique attributes of South Canara’s banking success, including fostering community trust and resilience during economic turmoil. The conversation also addresses the challenges of bank failures, the impact of nationalization, and the innovative pygmy deposit scheme aimed at enhancing financial inclusion for the underbanked.

Today my guests are Amartya Lahiri and Devashish Mitra who are joining me to discuss their latest paper for the 1991 project titled India’s Development Policy Challenge. Amartya Lahiri is the Royal Bank Research Professor in the Vancouver School of Economics at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Devashish Mitra the Gerald B. and Daphna Cramer Professor of Global Affairs at the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, Syracuse University. We spoke about structural transformation and increasing total factor productivity, manufacturing versus services led growth, industrial policy, export led growth, how to employ India’s youth in more productive sectors, and much more. Recorded July 29th, 2024. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Connect with Ideas of India Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Amartya on X Follow Devashish on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox. Timestamps (00:00:00) - Intro (00:01:27) - State of India’s Structural Transformation (00:08:28) - Has India’s Growth Peaked? (00:15:39) - Trade-, Export-, and Manufacturing-Led Growth (00:27:50) - Manufacturing-Led or Services-Led Growth Model? (00:47:16) - Scaling Manufacturing (00:59:38) - Labor Productivity in India (01:06:41) - Rising Protectionism (01:19:44) - Monetary Policy and Trade Policy (01:35:26) - Outro

Anirudh Burman, an associate research director at Carnegie Endowment India and a Harvard Law graduate, delves into India's dysfunctional land markets. He discusses the urgent need for reforms in land use policy, highlighting the challenges of land transfer and consolidation. The conversation also explores innovative approaches like land pooling and leasing, and delves into the complexities of eminent domain law and title insurance. Burman emphasizes the necessity of transparent regulations to optimize land utilization and drive economic growth.