Forum: Development

Two quotes (hauled from this Dec 2012 post) that are worth remembering. “Find out just what people will submit to, and you have found out the...

Political parties are like firms in the marketplace. The same principles that drive the behavior of firms drive the behavior of political parties....

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/FreeMarkets.jpg Markets I maintain that the idea of markets ranks amongst the greatest...

In the face of all that is grim and distressing, there’s always the relief of reading the TOI — affectionately referred to by its admirers as TOI-let...

A tweet of mine from May 14th: Pakistani PM: Nawaz Sharif Indian PM: Na–Aawaz Na–Sharif — Atanu Dey (@atanudey) May 14, 2013 ...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Roger-Ebert.jpgRoger Ebert 1942-2013 “In facing your own mortality, what final message would...

The 3rd president of Pakistan, General Yahya Khan, must be the original “My Name is Khan.” In 1971 he instructed his army to “Kill 3 million of them...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/caution_sharp_edges.jpegI deleted two recently posted comments on this blog. My policy regarding...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/us_india.jpgI have had the privilege of calling both India and the US home, and have had the...

“It was 20 years ago today, Sgt Peppers taught the band to play . . .” Actually, I got carried away. What I really meant was that it was 20 years ago...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/money.jpg Money does grow on trees. Quite a bit of it is printed on stuff that is grown — wood...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/dynasty.jpg India is not doomed to be poor due to factors outside its control. Yet India is...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/nations.jpg Why are nations unequal? Apparently a simple question but hard to answer. I am writing...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/ecodev.jpg The first lesson of development economics is that economic policies matter. Even if a...

http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/circus.jpgElephants Alright, time to get down to some serious work. The weekend is here and I...

I don’t usually argue with people’s claims about their objectives but once in a while when I see a claim that is absurdly irrational, I cannot but...

“Freedom, freedom, freedom . . . Sometimes I feel like a motherless child, A long way from my home,” sang Richie Havens at Woodstock. Lots of people...

Go click on the poll at rediff. http://www.deeshaa.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/rediffpoll.jpgAs of around Tuesday 9th April 6:30 PM IST ...

Most people realize after a little bit of observing and thinking that terrorism is not a matter of poverty. In most cases, the terrorists themselves...