Page 4 - Weekend Ruminations
Budget basics: How govt can break out of its straitjacket and raise revenue
There are two ways: deliver a rapidly growing economic pie or re-assess tax policy - reform of GST, closing corporate tax loopholes, suggests T N Ninan
Diamonds in the dust: As we enter a new year, let's recall some positives
While some would just be happy that 2021 is coming to an end, T N Ninan lists six things - from sports to stock markets and entrepreneurial talent - that India could look to in the new year
In celebrated bastions of democracy, an unlikely club of 'dissimilar' leaders
T N Ninan reads from another commentator's notes on one prime minister and observes how eerily similar they sound to the description of some others
Celebrating NRI success: When 'national pride' trumps obvious questions
Should we not stop uncritically celebrating NRIs' elevation without regard to what kind of companies they are getting to run, and the nature of their products or business practices, wonders T N Ninan
City Lights: India needs to take Tier-II route to propel its urbanisation
Among structural changes needed for proper urbanisation are directly elected mayors, a sensible property tax system, citizen- and bicycle-friendly designs, and clear FAR rules, writes T N Ninan
Yes, there are two Indias, and they are not getting any closer together
The fifth National Family Health Survey's findings make it clear that there are indeed two Indias - one represented by Tamil Nadu and another by Bihar, writes T N Ninan
Survival of the friendliest: One of India's transformations under Modi
The concept is relevant in an India where hate speech flourishes, where legislated and street violence can be unleashed against a chosen community, or those too weak to resist, writes T N Ninan
Survival of the friendliest: One of India's transformations under Modi
The concept is relevant in an India where hate speech flourishes, where legislated and street violence can be unleashed against a chosen community, or those too weak to resist, writes T N Ninan
Modi govt so far: Not the feared 'disaster', not the anticipated success
Three-quarters into the 10 years that Mr Modi had sought for transforming India, the "output" numbers look impressive, but the key "outcome" numbers don't show up much, if at all, writes T N Ninan
Climate goals: Can investor activism deliver what govts could not?
The moves by investors and accounting innovations by economists and auditors could make a critical difference on the margin. Call it Plan B; there is no Plan C, writes T N Ninan
Dilemmas after the boom: Market euphoria and an obvious disconnect
The likelihood is that the new Samvat will be a period when the market either corrects, or at the least digests the excesses of the year gone by, writes T N Ninan
Two 'A's plus… Could concentrated corporate dominance fade away in India?
It's hard to say because of the winner-take-all nature of new platform and network businesses, but Reliance has not been an efficient user of capital, and Adani numbers are varied, writes T N Ninan
Festival cheer and beyond: Admirable sangfroid in the face of negative news
The government's recent spate of programmes should be expected to generate some momentum, but the macro-economic numbers are not encouraging, notes T N Ninan
Pandora papers: A rich man's game, and its most willing participants
As an international consortium of journalists unearths the 'Pandora' list of stashes in tax havens, accountability becomes the call of the day. But what we get instead is hypocrisy, rues T N Ninan
Elections and 'wallet economics': Does economic under-performance matter?
There are instances - both from national and state elections - of economic under-performers being returned to power, and also of parties being thrown out despite good performance, writes T N Ninan
Evergrande crisis: A modified script may need to be written on China
This crisis could mark the end of the long run of "miracle" growth that made China the world's second-largest economy, and a challenger to the US in economic and strategic clout, writes T N Ninan
Dominance by default: How China was handed East Asia on a platter
Anyone within range of China's expanding navy will have to build capabilities faster and/or work more closely with the US, as Australia has just announced, writes T N Ninan
No easy rides: Why is India becoming a graveyard for world's auto majors?
India is a market for low-priced cars with low running costs. The global majors don't have models that fit the bill; only Maruti and Hyundai have successful entry-level models, writes T N Ninan
 "No easy rides: Why is India becoming a graveyard for world's auto majors?")
The ultimate scarcity: Overall consumption has stagnated over four years
Economic performance is also affected if large numbers of people are out of work, or at such low levels of income as to force under-consumption, writes T N Ninan
Rs 6-trillion monetisation plan: Modi govt's ambition in a minefield
Given the record of past blunders, under-achievements, vulnerabilities and the manifest influence of stigmatised capital, what India might get is yet another school for scandal, cautions T N Ninan
