We are economists and social scientists who are deeply concerned about the major implications for the Indian statistical system, of the attempt to combine data collection for the 2021 Census of India with that for the proposed National Population Register.…
Class struggle occurs in the realm of concepts too. The World Bank for instance systematically counters Left concepts by employing a novel tactic: it uses the very same concepts as are used by the Left, but gives them a wholly…
It is now well known that the Periodic Labour Force Survey of 2017-18 of the NSSO (the release of which was originally suppressed by the government) revealed a dramatic fall in absolute employment of both men and women, and a…
India’s financial landscape appears set for a sea change. Early into its second term, the Modi government, through the Budget speech of its Finance Minister, has signalled the likelihood of a fundamental transformation of Indian finance. There were five indications…
These notes are meant to clarify a point made earlier (Peoples’ Democracy, June 30, 2018) about the erstwhile socialist economies not having over-production crises as capitalist economies do. It is in the nature of capitalism to have “over-production crises”, i.e.…
Discussions on the state of the world economy centre around the likely negative impact of the novel coronavirus epidemic and the potential positive effect of the truce reflected in the “phase 1” trade deal between China and India. Though most…
The budget figures these days mean very little. The difference between what the budget provides and what actually happens does not come to light even after a time- lag of two years, while earlier two years were the limit. And…
The budget placed in the Indian Parliament on 1st February fails to send out a long due message to the stagnating Indian economy. This is by failing to announce policies for a possible recovery of aggregate employment and output in…
India’s economy may be heading to recession, but India’s leading business group Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), controlled by Asia’s richest man Mukesh Ambani, appears to be holding out well. Though revenues of the group in the last quarter of 2019…
Despite all the blatant attempts to fudge the data, it is clear that this budget will not provide the required fiscal stimulus to kick-start the economy. The few benefits of this budget will go to a handful of crony capitalists…
