29 results found

Lockdowns vs. COVID19: Covid Wins

Not only lockdowns were not effective, but that, in a large majority of cases, lockdowns were counter-productive i.e. led to more infections, and deaths than would have been the case with no lockdowns.

The Little Revenue LTCG tax

The best tax policy for the taxman is one that maximizes tax revenue, and not one that maximizes his morality, or his employment, or his discretionary powers.

Budget 2018/19: Revolutions and Regression

With the government swimming in tax revenues, it makes little economic, or revenue, sense to reintroduce the long term capital gains tax after a hiatus of 14 years. Why?!

Smart Policies for Redistribution

India can, and must, reform its welfare system for a transforming India – more efficient redistribution is desirable for both ethical, and political, reasons.

Tax-fruits of demonetisation

A direct outcome of demonetisation is a sharp increase in 2017-18 in tax buoyancy (revenues per unit of growth). Given this ‘unexpected’ result, will the knee-jerk critics of demonetisation please stand down?

Gujarat 2017- A turning point?

For whom will the Gujarat election toll – a confident BJP or a reviving Congress? The opinion polls suggest that Gujarat may not be a Rahul Gandhi moment.

Give accountability a chance

Here is a modest proposal to bring about much-needed accountability to the decisions of the RBI (and MPC): Let the RBI governor be questioned by Parliament twice a year

Making RBI accountable

The first year of operation of the Monetary Policy Committee has imposed considerable costs on the economy with very few benefits. What explains its decisions?

Demonetisation and its contents

It was about both politics and economics. It is an acknowledged political success and early ‘returns’ indicate an economic success story as well.

Data vs gossip: Who should win?

The incomes of the poorest are rising at a faster pace than any time since January 2015. That could be the reason for Modi winning elections and why the growth slowdown will soon reverse.