Mihir S Sharma

The year we reflected on institutions and their role in political economy

If there is a lesson to takeaway from the institutional turn in political economy, combined with the political currents of populism, it is this: Institutional strength is both vital and fragile

Second-time unlucky: Trump's second term may be more disruptive

Global governance suffered from his withdrawal from climate accords and his hamstringing of the World Trade Organization, but the former made little difference

Global elections show voters' wrath against rising inflation levels

The US election shows the conventional wisdom was right all along: Controlling inflation should be the primary focus of macro policy

The Midwest question: Can US politics move beyond white working class?

This week may be a trial for US President Joe Biden's core strategy-- that appealing to the white working class in the American Midwest is key to the White House

How land policy shapes economic outcomes in China, US, UK, and India

How to improve land and capture its value is central to growth and development policy even in the 21st century

When do political parties split? Answer lies in diverging voter interests

When voter interests diverge, parties split. If space allows, both survive. If not, only one remains

Bidenomics under scrutiny: Will economic populism win US votes?

The interventionist, anti-trade, and anti-finance policies of the US administration haven't helped the vice-president's campaign

Friendless in neighbourhood: Repairing ties with B'desh must be a priority

With the possible exception of Bhutan, India is relatively friendless in South Asia at the moment. Does that matter? Perhaps not, given our sheer size

Does policy matter? Lessons from two elections and one ongoing campaign

Few elections have been defined by manifestos, but manifestos have often been seen as a guide to how the rival parties will govern

The end of complacency

Sheikh Hasina's position seemed unassailable - until, suddenly, it wasn't

A change in course?

Three shifts in the Union Budget that may pay off

An unfair landslide?

The fairness or unfairness of the first-past-the-post voting system goes beyond mere vote shares

Three elections, three mistakes

Xenophobic populist right is set to take control of France, the US, and the UK - thanks to critical miscalculations by centre-left and centre-right leaders

Return of 'coalition dharma'

Allies are newly empowered, but need not stand in the way of reform

One nation, many elections

India needs more elections, not fewer of them

Jobs, cronyism, and welfare

A lacklustre campaign throws up some differences in economic strategy

Seven months of one-sided war

The support for Israel in Europe and the US is not as unshakable as it may seem

Lower-middle-income trap

Without structural transformation in India's workforce, growth will necessarily sputter in the future

The passing of the technocrat age

The 1990s and 2000s were a golden age for technocrats globally. Government - and not just in India - was, depending upon your point of view, either depoliticised or too highly politicised

A short report card

Three successes and two failures of policy in the last five years