Why settle for a single TV when you can work harder and install screens in every room and in the car? COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | In 1930, John Maynard Keynes published his short essay “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren,” in which he outlined his vision of a future global economy …
Read More »Authoritarianism, debt are biggest threats to global economic stability
COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | The International Economic Association (IEA) recently concluded its 20th World Congress in Medellín, Colombia. This triennial event brings together scholars from all over the world to share and discuss the latest developments in economic thinking. This year’s edition underscored the urgency of re-evaluating some of the …
Read More »To save democracy, fight inequality
Concentration of wealth among a few Big Tech billionaires translates into political and is anathema to democracy COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | In these tumultuous times, it often feels like one shock quickly eclipses another. Before one problem can be solved, another crisis emerges. Just a few weeks ago, the war …
Read More »A world of cronyism and corruption
To eliminate it, we must first improve our understanding of its mechanisms and incentive structures COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | Imagine the following scenario. A political outsider wins a critical election by promising to root out corruption. Even if that is a sincere intention, upon assuming office, they will quickly realise …
Read More »Governing the unknown
To keep up with innovation in technology, policymakers must keep broad considerations in mind COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | Technology is changing the world faster than policymakers can devise new ways to cope with it. As a result, societies are becoming polarised, inequality is rising, and authoritarian regimes and corporations are …
Read More »Lost decade for global economy
Can the world avoid annual global growth falling to a three-decade low of 2.2% and remain weak? COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | The Spring Meetings of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund usually provide a platform for various organisations, policymakers, and commentators to reflect on the state of the …
Read More »When voters become fans
They want their side to win not because it`ll change their lives, but because they want the other side to lose COMMENT | Kaushik Basu | The state of global politics has economists, political scientists, and political philosophers floundering. We are witnessing a level of polarisation rarely seen. From Turkey, Brazil, and …
Read More »The approaching debt wave
The World Bank has just warned that a fourth debt wave could dwarf previous ones and hit emerging economies hard COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | Over the last decade, the world economy has experienced a steady build-up of debt, now amounting to 230% of global GDP. The last three waves …
Read More »The case for a global constitution
Given the extent of globalisation’s progress we cannot simply stay in our lane and hope for the best. Project Syndicate | KAUSHIK BASU | In my book `The Republic of Beliefs: A New Approach to Law and Economics’, I was eager to demonstrate how the methods that have emerged from …
Read More »COMMENT: Why is democracy faltering?
Far-right politicians like Trump and Bolsonaro have exploited frustration-fanned anger, tribalism COMMENT | KAUSHIK BASU | Jair Bolsonaro, the president-elect of Brazil, is a far-right, gun-loving, media-baiting hyper-nationalist. The fact that he would be right at home among many of today’s global leaders – including the leaders of some of the …
Read More »