Ashok K Lahiri

Migration: A dream or a nightmare for labour and national integration?

Accelerating inter-state migration will not only enhance the efficiency of the labour market but also foster national integration

Welfare politics in Indian states: Too much, too soon, with too little?

Are welfare state and its agents, the political parties, making such excessive promises, particularly in pre-election years, with undesirable consequences?

Inflation debate: Current target holds merit, but 4% midpoint needs teeth

In inflation-averse Indian polity, people complain about high inflation and high prices all the time. Thus, there may also be handsome electoral dividends from low inflation

Battling for equality the right way

Highly progressive taxes on income, wealth, and inheritance have been tried for long. They failed in producing the desired result

A grand conspiracy or a massive scam?

The Union government has withheld MNREGS and PMAY funds -two centrally sponsored schemes - because of procedural lapses, alleged corruption

West Bengal's economic slide continues

At the end of March, its outstanding debt is expected to increase from about Rs 4.82 trillion in 2021 to about Rs 5.29 trillion in 2022 and further to a little more than Rs 5.86 trillion in 2023

Beyond the pandemic: The crisis of revenues

Once the pandemic is over, the states need to garner more own revenues to spend more on meritorious heads such as education, health and infrastructure

A macro perspective

Macroeconomic stability with low inflation has been achieved with policy perseverance. Throwing the gains away would not be judicious

Declare victory over inflation?

The inflation enemy may have been weakened, but may be far from dead

Ashok K Lahiri: Getting the GST rate right

Unfortunate if the GST regime comes with low rates and derails the fiscal consolidation reform

Ashok K Lahiri: Economic Survey in retrospect

The Survey would be presented early this year, but taking it too seriously has its own risks

Ashok K Lahiri: Simple economics of black cash

The recent demonetisation should be judged to have delivered some immediate gain if at least around Rs 2 trillion gets immobilised

Ashok K Lahiri: Demonetisation and the cash shortage

The liquidity crunch may extend far beyond the calendar year. A quick way to remonetise would be to import currency notes

Ashok K Lahiri: A GST that is less than perfect

Initiating reforms that are work in progress is fairly common among countries, including India. Remember CENVAT?

Ashok K Lahiri: Can India beat the 'super-cycle'?

The Indian economy can grow if it is delinked from the slow growth in the West and the deceleration in China

Ashok Lahiri: From negative rates to helicopter money

Is Japan likely to be the first economy to opt for distributing cash as a temporary fiscal stimulus, also known as helicopter money?

Ashok K Lahiri: Brexit - An unlikely divorce

The likelihood of the divorce going through appears slim and may result in 'reconciliation during legal separation'

Ashok K Lahiri: A new president of the Philippines

As Rodrigo Duterte is not from the traditional oligarchy, he may attempt real reform - but he will face formidable challenges

Ashok K Lahiri: Fifty years ago - sharp turn Left

In 1967, Congress, rattled by a reduced majority in Parliament, decided to implement 'pro-people' socialist policies

Ashok K Lahiri: Removing the roadblocks before logistics

To improve the efficiency of the logistics sector in India, road transportation has to become more efficient