The Modi government is finally getting some flak, as it should, for its confused economic policies, epitomised by the demonetisation blunder last year.
"The idea that black money or wealth is held in the form of notes tucked away in suitcases of pillow cases is nave. And in any case, even those who are caught napping - or waiting - will have the chance to convert the notes through paid agents...But the gesture had to be made, and produced much work and little gain."
Kenneth Arrow was among the rarest of rare economists - exceptionally brilliant, learned, gentle and public-spirited. His departure from this world earlier this week, at the handsome age of 95, was a huge loss not only for the economics profession but for all of us.
A recent headline in Quartz, an otherwise serious media agency, claims that Jammu and Kashmir is the first state in India to "commit to a universal basic income" (UBI). A glance at the original source quickly negates this claim: it is based on nothing more than "seeds of a thought" (sic) from the Finance Minister of J&K about possible cash transfer...
Children have been out of focus in recent debates on public policy in India. Even when budget cuts threaten to undermine child nutrition programmes, the mainstream media barely takes notice.
