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Policymaking is nothing if not about trade-offs: CEA V Anantha Nageswaran

During his speech on policymaking at the launch of the Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) by Ashoka University in Bengaluru, Nageswaran emphasised the role of researchers

V. Anantha Nageswaran, Anantha, Nageswaran

Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran. | File Photo

Aneeka Chatterjee Bengaluru

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Policymaking is nothing if not about trade-offs, Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) V Anantha Nageswaran said as he underlined the importance of a stronger collaboration between academia and policymakers.  

Speaking at the launch of Isaac Centre for Public Policy (ICPP) at Ashoka University in Bengaluru on Saturday, he emphasised the role of researchers in effectively highlighting trade-offs to capture policymakers' attention.

“One instance where the trade-offs are ignored in the world, in general, was within the court. Academic researchers, with few exceptions, came off short. The Great Barrington Declaration was an honourable exception. Public policy had to be made by policymakers, not epidemiologists,” Nageswaran said.
 

The CEA stressed the importance of stronger collaboration between academia and policymakers and advocated its formal integration into policymaking. He also proposed several key recommendations to address critical gaps in the current policymaking efforts. 

“We often lack the time to read long documents with detailed backgrounds on technical and contextual information. Highlights and summary pages that avoid academic and disciplinary jargon but focus on the meaning and implications of the research can go a long way in gaining a policymaker’s attention,” said Nageswaran.

“The goal of the ICPP has to be to make a difference for the better, to the public, for public policy is about the public affair. To make a difference, one has to be taken seriously by those who have skinned the game of public policy,” he added. 

ICPP has been established through a grant from the Ajit Isaac Foundation (AIF), an organisation created by Ajit Isaac, founder & chairman, Quess, Ajit Isaac and his wife, who also serve as founders and trustees of Ashoka University. Isaac has made significant contributions of over ~100 crore. 

“ICPP aims to create a research environment where experts across domains will help find scalable solutions to pressing and complex policy challenges in economic development, labour and employment, healthcare, gender, and fiscal policy. AIF looks forward to this partnership with Ashoka University in creating an exemplary Centre for Public Policy,” said Ajit Isaac.

The varsity said the centre would introduce public policy programmes and commission advanced interdisciplinary research, contributing towards accelerated, inclusive and sustainable growth and helping India become a $10 trillion economy by 2035. It also said ICPP would collaborate with public, private, and non-profit stakeholders to identify research gaps in policy-making and implementation.

The centre will offer undergraduate programmes in Economics and Public Policy, alongside graduate and executive-level courses targeting professionals from both sectors. Initial research efforts will focus on agriculture, rural economy, employment, labour, Indian regulators, and public finance, it said in a statement.

“Ashoka University has the distinct advantage of being home to leading faculty in the country, experts in fields such as economics, social development, behavioural science, biosciences, artificial intelligence and data science. The centre will utilise this strength, engage with public policy experts to become a hub for research-based interventions that contribute towards socio-economic development,” said Prachi Mishra, Director and Head, Isaac Centre for Public Policy.

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First Published: Sep 22 2024 | 9:20 AM IST

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