Public Policy – Page 9 – NICKELED AND DIMED

Urban Mobility Crisis: India Needs to Look Beyond Metro Rail Systems

In the second of a series of essays on urban mobility in India, Sudarshan and Mukundan systematically gauge the viability of responses by governments across the country to the current urban mobility crisis, focusing on the challenges faced by metro-rail systems in the country.
Read more: Urban Mobility Crisis: India Needs to Look Beyond Metro Rail Systems
How Post-Harvest Losses Continue to Plague the Agricultural Sector

This research article analyses post-harvest losses in India by discussing its causes and impact on the agricultural sector specifically and the economy and environment at large. Post-harvest losses are incurred after harvesting but before final consumption and amount to a staggering 40% of the country’s produce. The article deliberates over the untapped potential of this…
Read more: How Post-Harvest Losses Continue to Plague the Agricultural Sector
Does Common Prosperity mean Economic Prosperity?

Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party have resolved to make China into a socialist state by putting emphasis on “common prosperity” to combat the yawning wealth gap. This article will examine if such a policy will indeed help to reduce inequality or if China will soon witness an economic tumult. Is this policy a…
Read more: Does Common Prosperity mean Economic Prosperity?
Should Personal Income Tax be Abolished in India?

Income tax abolition is a highly debated and controversial proposal in the country today. About one fourth of the central government’s revenue comes from personal income tax collection. While some economists argue that the loss of revenue for the government would be detrimental, others opine that more money in the hands of people would result…
Read more: Should Personal Income Tax be Abolished in India?
4 Day Workweek: A Possible Solution to Modern Day Stress? Part 1

Japan, in June this year, enacted a policy encouraging companies to move to a four-day workweek. In this 2 part series, we will analyse whether the policy is viable and beneficial – on an individual employee and economic level. This article will examine the toxic work culture in Japan and the effects of the policy…
Read more: 4 Day Workweek: A Possible Solution to Modern Day Stress? Part 1
Columbia on Legalisation of Cocaine

This article aims at describing the proposed Colombian bill on legalisation of the infamous cocaine industry. It traces the history of drug trafficking and the effects of the proposed bill to the same.
Read more: Columbia on Legalisation of Cocaine
NOBEL PRIZE 2020 – BEYOND THE CRITICISMS

In this article, Siddharth G addresses the criticism of the Nobel Prize awarded this year to Dr Paul Milgrom and Dr. Robert Wilson for their work in auction theory. He also looks into how this microeconomic concept is used in macroeconomics and how auctions benefit the government.
Read more: NOBEL PRIZE 2020 – BEYOND THE CRITICISMS
River Interlinking: A Confluence of Ignorance, Ideological Misconception, and Irreparable Environmental Damage

River linking is based on the basic principle that surplus water in one basin can be diverted to water deficient drainage basins. While this may seem logically sound, this makes for bad science. Since the very inception of this project, several aspects of geology, hydrology, and ecology have not been taken seriously in either government…
Read more: River Interlinking: A Confluence of Ignorance, Ideological Misconception, and Irreparable Environmental Damage
The New Education Policy – Opportunities and Caveats

This article evaluates the recently announced education policy — the NEP. It discusses the necessity that drove the government into formulating such a document, the possibilities that entail upon its implementation, and the talk around its effectiveness in truly achieving what most of us have regarded with deep skepticism — better utilization of our people,…
Read more: The New Education Policy – Opportunities and Caveats
India’s National River Interlinking Projects – An Introduction (Part I)

This article is an introduction to the three part series focusing on India’s National River Linking Project. Vanshika Mittal traces the background and plan proposed by the government for this project.
Read more: India’s National River Interlinking Projects – An Introduction (Part I)
Broken Markets – Reflection from the labour landscape (Part II)

In this article, the author discusses the trend in budgetary allocations to schemes such as MNREGA to bring out the stark reality through the data analyzed in the July Issue of Infosphere.
Read more: Broken Markets – Reflection from the labour landscape (Part II)
Pandemic and slumped oil prices: context and impact on migrant workers

This article discusses how migrant workers in petrostates are impacted by fiscal policies in the light of pandemic and low oil prices.
Read more: Pandemic and slumped oil prices: context and impact on migrant workers