Ideas of India

Rithika Kumar, a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Kellogg Institute, dives into the fascinating dynamics of male migration and its impact on women's political engagement in Bihar, India. She discusses how the absence of men leads to unexpected empowerment among women, who step up to claim their entitlements. The conversation highlights the dual challenges of greater political activity against traditional household expectations and the intricate ways migration transforms societal norms, paving the way for enhanced female agency in politics.

Vanisha Sharma, researcher on the effects of social media on farmers, discusses her research on how social media impacts farmers, including their farm expenditures and battle against pests. The podcast explores the impact of WhatsApp groups on farmers in rural India, the differences between in-person and virtual interventions in developing communities, language barriers faced by farmers, and the various areas in which digital technology has revolutionized India.

Duncan Webb is a Ph.D. candidate in economics at the Paris School of Economics. He received his B.A. in PPE at Oxford University and his masters in economics at Paris School of Economics. His research lies at the intersection of development and behavioral economics. We spoke about his job market paper titled, “Silence to Solidarity: Using Group Dynamics to Reduce Anti-Transgender Discrimination in India.” Shruti and Duncan talked about deep-rooted prejudice versus marginal prejudice, preference falsification, behavior in group settings, endogamy, caste prejudice and more.  Recorded August 31st, 2023. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Follow us on X Follow Shruti on X Follow Duncan on X Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Amit Ahuja and Devesh Kapur discuss violence and order in India, including reasons behind declining violence, the contradiction of decentralization and centralization in governance and security, unrest and violence in India, failure in the Northeast region, implications of communication blackouts, challenges faced by police forces, road traffic fatalities, challenges of policing, and reflecting on fault lines and hope for future discussions.

Shreyas Narla and Kadambari Shah discuss women's absence from decision-making tables, trends in female labor force participation, and the challenges faced by women economic policy makers in India. They also highlight the progress made and the need for greater representation of women in these roles.

In this episode, Shruti speaks with Saurabh Kirpal about the constitutional roots of marriage equality, fundamental rights, the role of the state, problems and challenges of the Indian courts and much more. Kirpal is a senior advocate at the Delhi High Court, the author of “Fifteen Judgments: Cases That Shaped India’s Financial Landscape” and the editor of the anthology “Sex and the Supreme Court: How the Law Is Upholding the Dignity of the Indian Citizen.” Recorded June 26th, 2023. Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Follow us on Twitter Follow Shruti on Twitter Follow Saurabh on Twitter Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Peter J. Boettke discusses Hayek's economics, AI limitations in solving knowledge problems, challenges of socialist calculation, dynamic markets, entrepreneurship, role of prices in economy, human vs. computer adaptability, value-based food choices, technology intersecting human cognition, knowledge acquisition in economics, and benefits of diversity and decentralization in society.

In this episode, Shruti speaks with Aditi Mittal about how to build a comedy career, why she curses and makes jokes about sex, the logistical difficulties of being a woman in comedy, male vs. female spaces and much more. Mittal is a comedian, writer and actor. She has two Netflix specials, “Things They Wouldn’t Let Me Say” and “Girl Meets Mic,” which is part of the Comedians of the World series. Her third show, “Mother of Invention,” is on Amazon Prime U.K. and AUS and on NextUp Comedy. She’s also the host and executive producer of the podcast Women in Labour. Recorded May 30th, 2023 Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Follow us on Twitter Follow Shruti on Twitter Follow Aditi on Twitter Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

In this episode, Shruti speaks with Rohini Nilekani about civil society’s role in the state, public infrastructure, building state capacity, democratizing access to credit and much more. Nilekani is a journalist, children’s book author, activist and philanthropist. She is the founder of Arghyam, a foundation for sustainable water and sanitation, and the co-founder of Pratham Books. She is also the chairperson of Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies and the co-founder and director of EkStep, a nonprofit education platform. Her latest book is “Samaaj, Sarkaar, Bazaar: A Citizen-First Approach.” Recorded May 10th, 2023 Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links. Follow us on Twitter Follow Shruti on Twitter Click here for the latest Ideas of India episodes sent straight to your inbox.

Amit Varma, a Mumbai-based writer, journalist, and podcaster, shares his insights on navigating the creator economy. He emphasizes the importance of building online communities and creating content out of passion rather than seeking validation. The discussion dives into the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on creative jobs, contrasting generational work ethics, and the evolving landscape of media. Varma reflects on the necessity of authentic engagement and the joy found in celebrating milestones amidst rapid technological change.