centreforneweconomicstudies

The Post-Truth Presidency: Free Media Rhetoric and the Collapse of Democratic Journalism in Trump’s Second Term

By – Vasatika Saraswat Abstract The evolution of the media landscape in the United States during President Donald Trump’s second term represents a significant shift with wide-ranging implications, not only for domestic democratic governance but also for the nation’s foreign policy posture and global standing. The increasingly strategic use of the“free media” rhetoric, the weakening…
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Skirts, Stocks, and Sentiment: The Economic Undercurrents of the Hemline Index

By – Niyati Mishra Abstract: The Hemline Index is an economic theory that links the lengths of skirts to economic cycles as they occur, in an attempt to link cultural trends to macroeconomic health. It is often dismissed as anecdotal, however, recent studies show the impact of fashion choices on consumer behaviour and economic forecasting.…
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Fourth Pillar of Democracy: The Press’ Role in the Vietnam War

By – Shivali Yadav Abstract The Vietnam War symbolises a critical point in press history, where boots on the ground with a camera crew at their backs exposed the reality of what was happening in the war. Dubbed ‘the first television war’, the evolution of how the coverage shifted from relying on official sources to…
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Safeguarding Privacy in the Digital Era: A Critical Analysis of the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025

By – Aditya Vikram Sen Abstract The acknowledgement of Privacy as a fundamental right in Justice K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India facilitated legislative measures such as the Digital Personal Data Protection Act, 2023, and the Draft Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025. While the Act seeks to provide a foundational basis for the protection…
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The Politics of ESG Ratings: The Illusion of Sustainability

By – Aditi Gupta Abstract: This paper critically examines the rise of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, highlighting their growing global importance and underlying limitations. Initially envisioned to protect investments from non-financial risks and to promote corporate responsibility, ESG has become central to sustainable investing and international trade practices. However, inconsistencies in ESG ratings,…
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Contested Waters: Turkey’s Maritime Disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Geopolitics of Ocean Governance

By : Vasatika Saraswat Abstract: This article explores Turkey’s maritime boundary disputes in the Eastern Mediterranean as a case study in the collision between international legal frameworks and geopolitical strategy. Turkey’s refusal to recognise the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) claims of Greece and Cyprus, particularly its rejection of full maritime rights for islands under the…
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Dhaka Muslin: The Forgotten Fabric and Art of Reclaiming Power

By : Vasatika Saraswat Abstract Dhaka Muslin, once the pinnacle of luxury and craftsmanship, is more than a forgotten textile—it is a symbol of imperial plunder and now, a potent instrument of cultural reclamation. Woven from the rare Phuti karpas cotton along Bengal’s riverbanks, Muslin was celebrated across imperial courts from the Mughals to the…
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The Financial Rupture of Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport

By : Athma Maria Mathew Abstract The challenges of balancing the fiscal equation within a quasi-federal country, in addition to the irregularities in featuring a mixed economy, is a rising crisis in India’s democracy. This article attempts to address these issues by evaluating the financial markets involved in constructing India’s first International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport…
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‘Adolescence’ as a Mirror: Decoding the Digital Subcultures Shaping Young Minds

By : Vaidehi Sharma Abstract This article examines the digital indoctrination of teenage boys into toxic masculinity through online subcultures, as depicted in the series ‘Adolescence’. It explores the Manosphere and the incel subculture, and analyses how recommendation algorithms can steer impressionable adolescents toward harmful online communities. The article emphasises the urgent need for parental…
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The Price of Protectionism

By : Geetaali Malhotra Abstract When the WTO rolled out the TRIPS Agreement in 1995, it was sold as a grand plan to fuel innovation and reward pharmaceutical breakthroughs. Instead, it has become the world’s most effective paywall for survival, turning medicine into an exclusive club where only the wealthy get VIP access. By locking…
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Meerut 1987: Memory, Erasure, & the Silences of Power

This article examines the 1987 Meerut riots, focusing on the systematic erasure of the massacre through state complicity and narrative manipulation. It explores how communal tensions, political interests, and biased investigations contributed to reframing the violence as a “riot” rather than a state-enabled massacre. By analyzing institutional failures, selective violence, and the withholding of justice,…
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The ARC Model: An Endeavour in Asset Reconstruction or Recovery?

This article examines the evolution, practice, and impact of India’s Asset Reconstruction Company (ARC) model—enacted under the SARFAESI Act, 2002—to address the country’s chronic Non-Performing Asset (NPA) crisis. Tracing the model’s origins in pre-1990s policy proposals through its formal establishment, it highlights how ARCs have shifted from their intended role of operational and managerial revival…
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