Tuesday, October 25, 2016

25 October 2016: Workshop on Urbanization, Demographic Transition, and the Growth of Cities in India, 1870-2020

Chinmay Tumbe
Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIM-A)

Abstract:
Why is India urbanizing slowly? Why do some cities grow faster than others? This paper examines the nature of urbanization and urban growth in India since the late 19th century against the backdrop of the unfolding demographic transition. It argues that (a) Urbanization within India exhibits a tight relationship with economic growth at the regional level (b) The demographic divergence between rural and urban natural growth rates since the 1970s that is attributed to stagnant agricultural productivity and rural literacy levels in large parts of India has slowed down the pace of urbanization, especially in the Northern hinterlands (c) City population growth rates peaked in the 1980s and will see a marked deceleration in the coming decades with substantial variations driven by investments in specific sectors such as Information & Technology (d) Human capital externalities in a period of demographic transition draw in migrants but also reduce fertility such that its relationship with city growth rates, as observed in Indian data is mixed (e) Labour mobility in India is high but is mostly male-dominated, semi-permanent, and remittance-based in nature leading to masculine urbanization with important implications for urban growth and urbanization. By integrating the demographic transition with urban processes, this paper explains India’s relatively slow pace of urbanization, the inter-city variation in population growth rates and the paradox of faster urban growth combined with slower urbanization in the North relative to the South.

Date: October 25, 2016
Time: 03:45 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall
Centre for Policy Research,
Dharma Marg, Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi–110021(INDIA)

Location:

View Larger Map

2 November 2016: Pathways to Reducing Poverty and Sharing Prosperity in India: Lessons from the Last Two Decades

Rinku Murgai
World Bank

Abstract:
India is uniquely placed to help reduce global poverty and boost prosperity. The country has the largest number of poor people in the world, as well as the largest number of people who have recently escaped poverty. There is an emerging middle class but the majority of people are still vulnerable to falling back into poverty. What lessons do the past two decades offer for what it will take for the country to sustain progress and bring about deeper changes?
 
This talk brings together the key insights from extensive and in-depth research conducted by the World Bank on India’s experience in reducing poverty and sharing prosperity. The Synthesis paper on which this talk is based offers an overview of the trends in living standards and mobility in India. This is followed by a discussion of the main drivers of poverty reduction. The final section sheds light on some of the gaps India needs to fill for sustaining mobility and spreading prosperity more widely. Link to paper: https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/24988

Organised by:
Brookings India

Date: November 2, 2016
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Lecture Theatre
Brookings India
No. 6, 2nd Floor,
Dr. Jose P Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP shamika.ravi@brookingsindia.org so we can save a seat for you.

Monday, October 17, 2016

21 October 2016: How central planning came to India

Kumar Anand
Free A Billion, Mumbai

Abstract:
This session revisits independent India’s economic history, especially the first two decades. What were the policies that were implemented by the leaders of the time? What was the thinking and motivation behind some of these policies? Why is it that rapid industrialisation did not lead to a corresponding improvements in the general living standard of Indians? An answer to some of these questions are attempted, which contradicts the prevailing mainstream opinion on some of these matters.

It is often believed that ideas of economic freedom and reforms are “not Indian” and have been imported from the ‘West’. However, research into modern Indian history showcases the rich indigenous liberal tradition that stood against ideas of a centrally planned economy. This session also briefly presents an overview of such a tradition, which remains largely overlooked or forgotten today.

Date: October 21, 2016
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

View Larger Map

Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

21 October 2016: Public choice theory: a story of the ideas

Kumar Anand
Free A Billion, Mumbai

Abstract:
Public Choice Economics uses the insights of economics to explain political processes such as elections and bureaucracy. It explains that the probability of "market failure" must be compared with the probability of "government failure", in order to make rational choices about what should be done by governments and what should be done by markets.

This session introduces the field of Public Choice and its origins. This is a talk where we take a closer look at the history of ideas in Public Choice, how it developed over the last three centuries, who were the thinkers, what were the building blocks that were introduced, and what present day public policy relevance does the theory has for us.

Date: October 21, 2016
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

View Larger Map

Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

Friday, October 14, 2016

18 October 2016: Seminar on Impact of FFC and restructuring of Centrally Sponsored Schemes of Centre and States on Health Expenditure

Organised by:
Macro/Finance Group, NIPFP

Program

Abstract:
NIPFP is organising a seminar to deliberate and discuss the impact of the changed fiscal scenario in lieu of the 14th Finance Commission recommendations and restructuring of the Centrally Sponsored Schemes, on the Health Expenditure commitments of the Centre and States. These changes have initiated a process of overhaul of the fiscal architecture at both Central and State levels. The motivation for the seminar is to bring together researchers and stakeholder to share their views and initiate a dialogue.

Date: October 18, 2016
Time: 10:30 A.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor, R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Note:
Participation is registration based only. Those interested may please register at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

Location:

View Larger Map

Monday, October 3, 2016

6 October 2016: Problems of market abuse in India

Sandeep Parekh
Finsec Law Advisors

Abstract:
The concept of securities regulations covers a field straddled between the fields of finance and law. While both manipulation and insider trading prohibition—fall under the broad umbrella of fraud, in India the law on insider trading has somewhat diverged on its own course.

A fair securities market is one in which the savers and the users of capital are brought together in a mutually beneficial partnership. A significant impediment in a productive relationship is asymmetry of information, which, along with conflict of interest, ranks among the major ills that adversely affect the interests of investors. Greed, leading to dropping one's guard, is equally at the root of investors coming to grief. The securities market has no shortage of persons who take advantage of the unequal relationship between the less informed investor and the better informed but less scrupulous purveyor of products. It merits saying that the securities market in the absence of fraud, manipulation, mis-selling, insider trading and the like, can reward all participants. Yet, regrettably, some investors have seen the bulk of their savings vanish on account of illegal and criminal practices. This seminar will discuss the broad contours of both fraud and insider trading and progress to current issues in the enforcement and interpretation. Both false positives and false negatives are an issue with the enforcement.

Date: October 6, 2016
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall, Ground Floor
R&T Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

View Larger Map

Note:
Those who are interested may please confirm your participation at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in