Theoddangle

Why Kaushik Basu's stint as adviser was no 'game-changer'

For all of Basu's well-earned reputation as a game theorist, his tenure as Chief Economic Adviser wasn't characterised by intelligent, rational decision-making by the government.

'Shy' Parsis and 'secretive' Chettiars: Stereotyping 'biz communities'

Do 'business communities' have distinguishing traits that underlie their business success? Or is it just so much cultural stereotyping?

May Day musings: Why the Left deserves a 'lal salaam'

With all their faults, the Left parties were at least consistent in their position on economic issues. Today, we only have ideologically vacuous parties that believe in bare-naked populism.

Hey, nobody's perfect! Why experts don't know Jack...

Professional musicians, wine tasters, book judges, film critics and ice-skating judges are all fallible. Why would rating agencies, who gave AAA ratings to securities that turned to junk, be any better?

Mallya, Kingfisher, and the limits of 'vanity business'

If taxpayers are going to subsidise Mallya's flamboyant lifestyle through a 'backdoor bailout', it's only fair he gives us a shot at the good times he savours.

The dirty picture of India: A nation of petty marketers

Every success story in India, from Kolaveri di to The Dirty Picture, has to have a marketing moral. But isn't there more to success than being enshrined in a business school course?

Cult of corporate personality: Hero-worshipping Ratan, Mukesh et al

Corporate tycoons are the new heroes of post-liberalisation India, each of us eager to bask in their reflected glory. But in this new era, Ratan Tata is a god of a lesser kind, less beloved than his more nouveau riche peers.

Flying on empty: The good life of Vijay Mallya

Playboy and bon vivant, Vijay Mallya is our pin up boy for the good life. Now with Kingfisher struggling to fly, the question is will the Mallya brand survive? Or is it a B-movie that has run its course, calendar girls and all?

Why the middle class hates petrol price hikes

The same middle class that is fuelling mall growth, car sales and telecom sector boom is interestingly also the most vocal when it comes to decrying fuel price hikes.

From Ambedkar to Doniger: Can copyright law rescue books at risk?

Where pharma went can publishing follow? A compulsory licensing provision in the copyright act has been used to manufacture generic drugs. Could it help get a book published when the original publisher chickens out?