Articles

Asking the right questions

Just as non-cash shouldn't mandatorily be imposed, neither should cash. Why has this not figured on a reform agenda between 2004 and 2014, or much earlier?...

Articles

Let the numbers speak

The discussion on the fall in employment after the November 8 demonetisation relies on anecdotal evidence. It is not backed by data...

Articles

Impact of GDP growth on income inequality

For every percentage point of GDP growth, there will be a spike in demand for consumer goods and services which, in turn, will boost investment, and the benefits of these will be felt across all sections of the income pyramid...

Articles

Destabilise the Pyramid

The right to resources is increasingly becoming the major talking point in the country. The tussle is about how this pie of resources can be cut up more equitably to benefit...

Articles

Impact of GDP growth on income inequality

For every percentage point of GDP growth, there will be a spike in demand for consumer goods and services which, in turn, will boost investment, and the benefits of these will be felt across all sections of the income pyramid...

Articles

THE FALLING CITY

EARLIER THIS WEEK, three-time chief minister of Delhi, Arvind Kejriwal, stepped down—six months ahead of what would have been the conclusion of his second full term at the helm. An accused in the liquor scam, the former chief minister was released on bail a few days earlier by the Supreme Court. Atishi is taking over as the new chief minister, giving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) a new leadership in Delhi.

Articles

Rich Farmers Gotta Pay Tax

As India strides toward its vision of Vikshit Bharat (developed India), it must confront the realities of economic inequality, particularly in the agricultural sector, where disparities are deeply entrenched. Agriculture, employing nearly 50% of the population but contributing only 17% to the GDP, reflects a vast divide between smallholders with marginal incomes and a small group of wealthy farmers who control a substantial share of the sector’s wealth. To address this imbalance and drive India’s developmental goals, implementing a well-structured taxation policy for affluent farmers is essential. This would not only generate much-needed revenue but also promote greater economic equity....

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Pandemic poverty to recovery: Lessons from a rollercoaster ride

India has made remarkable progress in reducing income-based extreme poverty over the past several years, but this journey has been anything but straightforward. From 2015 to 2023, the country experienced a sharp rise in extreme poverty, worsened by the covid pandemic, followed by an equally dramatic recovery. Household income data from PRICE’s ICE 360 surveys (2016, 2021 and 2023) provide critical insights into these fluctuations and sheds light on how government interventions, economic resilience and social programmes shaped the fight against extreme poverty....

Articles

Don’t Rob Peter Just Educate Them

Income inequality in India remains a critical challenge, despite decades of robust economic growth, particularly following the economic liberalization of the 1990s. While millions have risen out of poverty, wealth continues to concentrate in the hands of a small elite, widening the gap between the rich and the poor. The wealthiest individuals now hold a disproportionate share of the nation's wealth, while vast segments of the population—especially in rural and marginalized communities—still struggle with limited access to essential services like education, healthcare, and economic opportunities....