Op-Eds

There is a profound mismatch between Germany’s current economy and its institutional inheritance from the postwar period. If the current crisis prompts a wholesale rethink of that inheritance, the logjam blocking necessary reforms could finally be broken. Germany is the poster child for everything that is wrong with the European economy. GDP is on track...   Read More

There is a need to reimagine agriculture with the twin crises of food and energy insecurity set to challenge global priorities. “Addressing food insecurity and energy poverty is central to achieving global stability, but tackling these issues independently is no longer sufficient,” warns the World Bank in its latest report on climate and development. The...   Read More

India’s research ecosystem stands on the cusp of a seismic shift with the impending rollout of the One Nation, One Subscription (ONOS) scheme, a Rs 6,000-crore initiative aimed at dismantling the long-standing barriers to accessing global academic resources. Boasting the promise of providing 13,000 international journals to over 6,300 institutions and nearly 18 million researchers...   Read More

Adopting legislative measures that raise the minimum age for consumption of tobacco products can help restrict adolescents and youth access to them. India’s pan, tobacco, and intoxicants industry remains robust, even as the government enforces measures to curb consumption. Tobacco continues to be a significant public health risk, contributing to rising noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and...   Read More

Shifting focus on governance, partnerships and technology to safeguard national wealth. Sixteen years ago, state-appointed professionals created the International Forum of Sovereign Wealth Funds, a knowledge exchange platform for managing public financial assets responsibly. The 2024 annual meeting in Muscat, Oman, hosted by Oman Investment Authority, marked a pivotal moment for IFSWF. Its theme –...   Read More

Opinion: Barry Eichengreen. There is now a conventional narrative in the markets about the short- and medium-term prospects of the dollar. In the short run the dollar will continue to strengthen, as an unprecedented confluence of domestic and foreign forces push it up. Foreign exchange traders are focused on Donald Trump imposing tariffs on his...   Read More

The Sundarbans, spanning approximately 10,000 square kilometres across India and Bangladesh, is not only the world’s largest contiguous mangrove forest but also a critical ecological buffer zone and a major economic asset for both countries. Situated at the confluence of the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Meghna rivers, this unique wetland acts as a natural defence mechanism,...   Read More

Migration should not merely be managed as a ‘problem’; it is often an adaptive strategy for those fleeing conflict, economic hardship, and climate impacts. If managed correctly, migration can benefit host economies and help people escape climate impacts. In the quiet streets of Waterloo, Ontario, a South Asian man was verbally assaulted by a stranger...   Read More

With the re-election of Donald Trump, the United States is poised to enter a critical peri-od of climate policy retrenchment. Trump’s policies promise increased fossil fuel production and the reversal of major clean energy investments, threatening global efforts to combat climate change. Trump’s proposed energy policies suggest a substantial set-back for climate action. His administration...   Read More

The hybrid trolley bus, which can switch between using overhead lines and a battery, can offer reliable, clean transportation at low operating cost. In India, the need for clean, energy-efficient transportation options is more urgent than ever. The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan aims to push electric vehicles (EVs)as a solution for both private and...   Read More