Weekend Ruminations

Taxing capital: Withdrawal of debt LTCG benefits should have been debated

The govt's step could push investors to choose riskier equity, or to fall back on bank deposits, thereby negatively impacting the debt market which actually needs to grow, writes T N Ninan

Assessing contagion: 'Little, then lottle', like ketchup coming out of bottle

In every systemic crisis, there are initial soothing noises from regulators and commentators: There won't be contagion. Except that eventually there is contagion more often than not, writes T N Ninan

From debt to equity: Why are India's 'national champions' changing tack?

Among reasons for the shift could be higher cost of servicing debt, bond holders' risk awareness making roll-over option expensive at the time of repayment, and reputation issues, writes T N Ninan

Growth and glory: Might the two Asian cheetahs end up in another dead heat?

Most forecasters had it that India would do significantly better than China in FY24, but the scenario has undergone a change in recent weeks, as China has altered course dramatically, writes T N Ninan

Social capital and Budgets: The picture is varied, not just black or white

India's ranking on the UN's HDI has remained more or less unchanged, suggesting the country is doing no better or worse than others, though most are growing much slower than India, writes T N Ninan

Billionaire Raj: The rise of India's multi-business conglomerates

The experience of South Korea, Japan and Russia has shown that the conglomerate model often comes with political connections, but such comparisons can be overblown, writes T N Ninan

A profligate state: The financial cul-de-sac that confronts Pakistan

With a narrow industrial base and dysfunctional politics, and a counter-productive national security agenda, Pakistan could well remain an "international migraine", writes T N Ninan

The stakes get bigger: Why Gautam Adani had to re-assess his position

A fight could have spread effects not only on those who financed the projects Adani embarked on, but also the govt's manufacturing and infrastructure ambitions, writes T N Ninan

Hindenburg flames again: Can Adani repeat what Dhirubhai did in the 80s?

The last time a bear attack was launched on a businessman gaining prominence rapidly was in the early 1980s when a cabal of brokers took on "an over-priced Reliance share", recalls T N Ninan

Chexit, in parts: Reshoring, friend-shoring and billions of dollars in sops

Good or bad, India's current policy thrust on PLIs, capital subsidies, etc, is in line with the East Asian trend, if not global, notes T N Ninan

Beyond Joshimath: How not to make the future a repeat of the past

Can we have stronger regulatory and associated institutions to ensure environmental protection? If not, the shock effect of Joshimath won't last much more than a week, cautions T N Ninan

How sustained 6.5% growth for the rest of the decade can be realistic

Growth beyond 6% can happen, but there are constraints on both fiscal and monetary policy, which must focus on reducing the current account deficit, the fiscal deficit and inflation, writes T N Ninan

India steadily building its naval strength, but the usual challenges remain

Inadequate budgets, delays in placing orders and then in construction, poorly coordinated delivery schedules, and the China factor present manifold challenges for the navy, notes T N Ninan

Lessons in budgeting: Changing Budget tack amid changing realities

From an adventurous start in 2019 to modest revenue projections last year, there has been a marked change in Ms Sitharaman's approach. T N Ninan looks at what can be expected in Budget 2023

Defence industry perks up: India's decades-old ambition and its paradoxes

It may be too early for isolated deals and breakthrough domestic R&D to register on a large scale, but those in the sector talk of winds of change, writes T N Ninan

Just when things look…: Beware the surprise that catches you unprepared

As the system emerges from the Covid trauma and India shifts its sights to long-term targets, attention must turn to the underlying weaknesses that may scupper ambitious aspirations, writes T N Ninan

The future of Indian economy: Should it play the power game or values game?

India must decide what it wants to be - a country admired for its soft power and market, or an arbitrary state that can do what it wills with both individuals and businesses - writes T N Ninan

Why optimism on India's present does not extend much beyond visible horizon

Structural unemployment problem, social unrest, poor state of education and health care, and nutrition deficits among children - tomorrow's workforce - temper optimism on India, writes T Ninan

Beyond bloviation: What do climate conferences like COP achieve anyway?

It would be wrong to think that nothing has been achieved. A great deal has, though far too slowly - for which lack of speed the world, especially its poor, will pay the price, writes T N Ninan

Data goes private: Positive for India but also a challenge for the govt

The quality of some of the important economic statistics put out by the govt - for much of which there can be no comparable private substitute - remain questionable and undependable, writes T N Ninan