TMS Ep327: Swiggy fee, India's semiconductor industry, silver, World Bank

Your food order on Swiggy will now cost two-rupee more in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. But why? Because the food and grocery delivery company has started levying a platform fee on every order -- no matter what the cart value is. And it comes days after the company laid-off 380 employees and shut down its meat delivery business. So what is behind the new platform fee? And what does it say about the unit economics of India’s online food aggregator platforms? And, what does this mean for foodies going ahead? 

In this technology-driven world, a tiny component is running the show. From the phone you use to order food from Swiggy or Zomato, to your smart TV and car, to satellites in the sky, semiconductor chips are everywhere. And most of them are made in the tiny islands of Taiwan. But recent supply chain disruption forced the nation’s semiconductor industry to look for alternatives. They are exploring safe destinations to move their manufacturing facilities. But they haven’t turned to India so far. Why is it so? And what should India do to make it an attractive destination for chip makers? 

Did you know that gold is also used in some semiconductors to provide contact pads. Moving on, all that glitters is not gold, as it could be silver too. The white metal has seen a strong performance this year in line with gold, given the recessionary risks in the West and elevated inflation. So, will the precious metal continue its up run and should you add it to your portfolio? 

Meanwhile, the World Bank has recently unveiled a new methodology and improved safeguards for assessing the business climate in up to 180 countries. The Bretton Woods institution will now be helmed by an Indian-origin businessman. Ajay Banga’s name was suggested by American president Joe Biden. But ever wondered what is the World Bank? What does it do? Listen to this podcast for the answers.