Debraj Ray again - That was Kenneth Arrow: self-effacing, razor-sharp, a genius; ever ahead of himself, ever ahead of his time.

Ray’s encounter with Arrow

How on earth did I miss this adorable little recall of Debraj Ray meeting Kenneth Arrow, years back. Ray’s was my first ever econ text. Forever influenced me! I walked into his office. It was small and cluttered, full of books that went up high. It had a vertical rather than horizontal feel. Arrow himself … Continue reading Ray’s encounter with Arrow →

Economics, Development & Policy Takeaways, 2017

It has been an extraordinary year in academic realm, especially in public policy and economics. This is the year when economics got realistic, if one regards the annual Nobel Prize in Economics as a defining moment in economics research. Richard Thaler won it for for showing how the human traits of 'limited rationality, social preferences, and lack of … Continue reading Economics, Development & Policy Takeaways, 2017 →

Understanding Public Policy Research – A schematic

Here is a ‘discipline neutral’ way of understanding policy research. This stuff comes out from a course on Introduction to Policy Research that I take this term. Interestingly enough this is the first time that we have a specific course titled as that – Public Policy, as a part of any graduate program in an … Continue reading Understanding Public Policy Research – A schematic →

The proverbial India – China comparison

There is this obsession with Indians about Chinese cities, their outrageously large engineering projects, their ventures in Africa, the Chinese people and other things Chinese. Especially in my neighbourhood which is a rather insignificant south Indian town where a private university (happens to be my alma mater too) has been admitting hundreds of Chinese students in its … Continue reading The proverbial India – China comparison →

On use of safety gear in the Indian Industry (Part 2)

My interest in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) or Safety Gear use in India stems from a business interest that I have. Doing long road trips and train rides do this thing to you - that you are never short of ideas to pursue. Starting a business in manufacturing PPE for construction and building industry is one … Continue reading On use of safety gear in the Indian Industry (Part 2) →

This Indian attitude: On use of safety gear in Indian Industry (Part 1)

While I still struggle with framing the argument for this economics paper that I had to turn in a last week, here goes the abstract. Folks reading could give me a thought or two to help, or just go poke holes to reveal its flaws. Schematics by @praveenasridhar The question- why does India exhibit such … Continue reading This Indian attitude: On use of safety gear in Indian Industry (Part 1) →