Everything is Everything

Ajay Shah, an esteemed economist with decades of experience in financial crises, joins to unravel their complexities. He explains how crises impair financial functions and categorizes them into five types, from banking to securities-market crises. Delving into historical examples like India's 1991 crisis and the 2008 global turmoil, he discusses the role of state intervention and regulatory challenges. Ajay also promotes essential reforms, advocating for a robust financial resolution framework and improved data infrastructure to better prepare for future disruptions.

Men and women have always struggled to understand each other — and never more so than in these complex, changing times. What can new forms of data reveal about what we really want? A lot!Welcome to Episode 118 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss what anonymised search results, dating apps and innovative surveys reveal about what our hearts contain.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Energiser Bunny02:39 Chapter 1: Metrics of Empowerment09:40 Chapter 2: What Your Searches Reveal26:40 Chapter 3: What Dating Apps Tell Us47:41 Chapter 4: When Harry Met Sally53:20 Chapter 5: Over to YOU!For full show notes, please click here!

How do we understand the world? Over the last couple of decades, new sources of data have given us great insights into our deep past — and our deep present.Welcome to Episode 117 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss what our genetic data tells us about our prehistory — and how phone battery life can reveal character!Also discussed: lipstick, underwear, diapers and parking lots. :)TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Importance of Measurement05:00 Chapter 1: The History38:57 Chapter 2: Getting Into the Details50:44 Chapter 3: Ajay’s Journey With the Data59:51 Chapter 4: The Russia-Ukraine WarFor full show notes, please click here!

Sometimes, the data just ain’t enough. What’s going on in Russia? In fact, what’s going on in Karnataka — and all the rest of the world? Can we glean some insights in alternative sources of data?Yes we can. All hail nighttime lights!Welcome to Episode 116 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay discusses his pioneering work in using nighttime lights data from satellites to get crucial insights about the world — most recently, Russia. Watch!TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A poem! A poem!02:07 Chapter 1: The History07:07 Chapter 2: Getting Into the Details14:04 Chapter 3: Ajay’s Journey With the Data25:28 Chapter 4: The Russia-Ukraine WarFor full show notes, please click here!

Explore the intriguing ideas from James C. Scott's 'Seeing Like a State' as the hosts connect his insights to contemporary thinking. They delve into state legibility and the dangers of high modernism, highlighting how bureaucracies can misinterpret societal complexities. The pitfalls of reductionist approaches in governance and forestry are also critiqued, advocating for localized knowledge and humility in policymaking. Personal anecdotes and historical examples bring these concepts to life, encouraging listeners to rethink the relationship between citizens and the state.

The conversation dives into India's strategic response to a chaotic global order, examining the impact of U.S. tariffs and the complex India-U.S. trade relationship. Exploring historical economic growth from 1991 to 2011, the hosts advocate for globalization and foreign investment. They highlight the necessity for India to reform its economic policies, focusing on improved trade agreements and communication in policy-making. The discussion emphasizes the need for proactive engagement and innovation to thrive despite external pressures.

The Indian media landscape faces a series of crises, from relevance to trust, each affecting journalistic integrity. The shift from print to digital has altered how news is consumed, leading to financial pressures and degraded quality. The discussion delves into the historical resilience of journalists and the ongoing challenges of misinformation. With traditional media struggling, independent creators emerge as key players, highlighting the need for new support structures and innovative approaches in reporting. A critical examination of these dynamics reveals a complex future for journalism.

Human beings remain the same, while technology grows at a mad pace. This means that the face of war has changed forever. Everything we know now is already outdated.Welcome to Episode 112 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay & Amit discuss the future of war. It’s scary. Are we prepared?TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Memory of Cities08:22 Chapter 1: Why Understanding War is Important11:41 Chapter 2: The Evolution of War18:03 Chapter 3: Naval Gazing25:19 Chapter 4: The Hellscape28:55 Chapter 5: Operation Spiderweb34:53 Chapter 6: Operation Rising Lion37:45 Chapter 7: The India-Pakistan Conflict40:11 Chapter 8: The Taiwan Question42:19 Chapter 9: Drone Swarms, Iron Beam and 3D Printers49:36 Chapter 10: Eight Principles1:09:41 Chapter 11: The Implications1:26:57 Chapter 12: Two Fears and One Exhortation1:37:25 Chapter 13: RecommendationsFor full show notes, please click here!

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is fully amaze — and also, sometimes, fully a maze. It should be something a country welcomes with open arms — and yet, India has often done fisticuffs with it. This should change.Welcome to Episode 111 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.In this episode, Ajay explains why he loves FDI so much — and how India should embrace it and make it work for us.TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Many Loves of Ajay Shah’s Life04:09 Chapter 1: What is FDI?08:20 Chapter 2: Measuring FDI11:06 Chapter 3: The Dream of FDI25:08 Chapter 4: What about Foreign Portfolio Investment?34:21 Chapter 5: The Political Economy Around FDI37:40 Chapter 6: Tariff-Jumping FDI40:58 Chapter 7: Building the Right Environment47:47 Chapter 8: Raju Ban Gaya Gentleman52:58 Chapter 9: A Remarkable Opportunity for IndiaFor full show notes, please click here!

Explore the complexities of retirement planning and why simply calculating a target number might be misguided. Discover the importance of diversification, a probabilistic approach to finances, and how technology is reshaping economic growth. Delve into the unique financial challenges women face and the need for financial independence. Emphasizing global diversification, the hosts advocate for engaging with finances throughout life rather than withdrawing from them in retirement, all served with a dose of humor and insightful analysis.