20 December 2017: Health effects of exposure to air pollution

Prabhakaran Dorairaj, Preet Dhillon,
Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI) and
Raj Kumar
Vallabhhai Patel Chest Institute

Moderator
Bhargav Krishna, Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI)

Abstract:
Clinicians, health experts and researchers from leading public health and clinical institutes will be discussing the effects of air pollution on important health outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases and cancer. This panel will discuss biological pathways and the evidence on these health effects coming from global evidence as well as in low- and middle-income country settings like India.

Date: December 20, 2017
Time: 04:00 P.M.

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

Note:
Please do RSVP at climate.initiative.cpr@gmail.com

Location:

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11 December 2017: Importance of Legislatures

M. Venkaiah Naidu, Hon’ble Vice President

Abstract:
Given the central role of legislatures in our democracy, we at PRS Legislative Research, believe that it is important to strengthen the working of these institutions. The Vice President is at the forefront of thought leadership in strengthening legislatures. As the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, he is at the helm of strengthening parliamentary functioning and setting the roadmap for state legislatures as well. Mr. Naidu’s experience as a legislator for four decades and as the Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs will be invaluable as he highlights the importance of legislative institutions.

Date: December 11, 2016
Time: 04:00 P.M.

Venue:
Auditorium,
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library,
Teen Murti Marg,
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)

Location:

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11 December 2017: The Indian bankruptcy reform: A progress report

M. S. Sahoo
Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India

Abstract:
The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 is a watershed legislation in the economic history of the country. Coming, as it did, when the economy was struggling with mounting cases of unresolved non-performing assets, it strove to better the legal and institutional machinery dealing with debt default. Almost a year and half later, in late November, 2017, an ordinance has been promulgated addressing concerns of non compliance and misuse of the law. In this context, a stock taking of the law and its implications becomes imperative.

Discussant:
Ajay Shah, NIPFP

Date: December 11, 2017
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:

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

7 December 2017: Market failure, government failure, and the welfare of poor people

Shantayanan Devarajan
World Bank

Abstract:
In many areas of public policy, governments carve out a role for themselves in effect to overcome what are perceived as widespread market failures. Examples abound across the world of governments intervening to correct negative externalities where there is a wedge between public purpose and private interest, and the outcomes are bad, particularly for poor people with the least means to cope with poor service delivery. In India, governments often turn to command and control approaches to solving serious problems of public policy, for example air quality, essentially because of a deep distrust of more market-based approaches. Governments routinely intervene in pricing, usually on the grounds of helping the poor.

But in doing so, governments often themselves fall prey to government failure, because they do not have the capacity to implement, or they get captured, or they create vested interests (“the only thing worse than a private monopoly is a public monopoly”) and corruption, or a subsidy in one part of the economy does widespread and worse damage in another part of the economy. Delhi’s air quality is a constant reminder of what happens when government failure meets market failure. And yet, governments are essential to any well-functioning economy that both provides opportunity and protects the vulnerable. What to do in the face of both market and government failures to make services work for poor people?

Date: December 7, 2017
Time: 11:00 P.M.

Venue:
NCAER Conference Room
National Council of Applied Economic Research
Parisila Bhawan, 11, Indraprastha Estate
New Delhi-110002(INDIA)

Location:

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5-6 December 2017: 2nd Law Economics Policy Conference 2017

Organised by:
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi and Institute for New Economic Thinking, New York

Program

Date: December 5-6, 2016
Time: 09:00 A.M.

Venue:
Juniper Hall
India Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road
New Delhi-110003 (INDIA)

Note:
Those interested may please register at bins.sebastian@nipfp.org.in

Location:

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4 December 2017: Filling the knowledge gap on air quality in Indian cities

Sarath Guttikunda
UEinfo, India

Abstract:
Delhi is in the midst of its annual debate on air pollution. How much do we know about Delhi's pollution load, and is that information adequate for policy making? In addition, the debate on air quality is limited to conditions in these big cities (like Delhi) even though most of India’s population live in smaller towns and there is little by way of measurements or an assessment of sources contributing to local air pollution problems, or health impacts associated with these pollution levels. The Air Pollution Knowledge Assessment (APnA) city program, covering 20 cities in 2016-17, is an attempt to fill this lacuna of information, with an objective to create a baseline database for air pollution in Indian cities to inform policymakers as they chart out strategies to improve air quality. Finally, despite all these efforts, what are the continued shortcomings and gaps in knowledge that are obstacles to improving the air around Delhi and other population centres in India?

Date: December 4, 2017
Time: 04:00 P.M.

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

Note:
Please do RSVP at climate.initiative.cpr@gmail.com

Location:

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8 December 2017: Mahalanobis and Fisher: Mathematical Statistics as a Global Enterprise

Stephen Stigler
University of Chicago, U.S.A.

Abstract:
Between 1930 and 1950, P. C. Mahalanobis played a crucial role in the global development of mathematical statistics and its practical application. The talk will focus particularly on the story of his relationship with Ronald A. Fisher over this period.

Date: December 8, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Auditorium,
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Note:
For registration please click at: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1OnE3YDD3c4uCNBSGlNbhYFxXbd4p4ru3Bc5sPgJJF5g/viewform?edit_requested=true

Location:

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22 November 2017: Asia’s Financial Services: Ready for the Cloud?

Lim May-Ann
Asia Cloud Computing Association

Abstract:
Many industries are ready to embrace cloud computing to reap the benefits of this new technology. However, perceived regulatory challenges often stymie adoption efforts, such as in the case of highly regulated sectors like the financial services industry (FSI). This seminar will present the work done by the Asia Cloud Computing Association, an industry association that represents the voice of the tech and cloud computing businesses in the Asia Pacific region, reviewing the current regulatory landscape and key regulatory challenges to the adoption of cloud services by FSIs in 14 economies in this region.

Discussant:
Sankarson Banerjee, National Stock Exchange

Date: November 22, 2017
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)

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

Location:

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7 November 2017: Indo-German Symposium on Science Communication

Abstract:
Science Communication is an often underestimated, yet crucial part of science. The Indo-German Symposium on science communication invites students, scientists and practitioners from India and Germany to explore the possibilities of science communication. Questions like ‘What makes good science communication?’ ‘Why is it important?’ ‘And how is it done?’ will be addressed at the symposium.

Date: November 7, 2017
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Keynote Lecture:
“Science communication in the digital age: New opportunities, new players, new challenges” by Prof. Carsten Könneker, “Spektrum der Wissenschaft” and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Panel discussion:
Exploring the Secrets of Successful Science Communication

Panelists:
Radhika Mittal, LBS National Academy of Administration, Mussoorie
Anett Richter, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research UFZ/ German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Germany
Ramaseshan Ramachandran, Physicist and freelance science journalist, New Delhi
Alexander Waschkau, Psychologist, podcaster, publisher, founder of "Hoaxilla”, Hamburg, Germany

Moderator:
Heike Mock, German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) India and German House for Research and Innovation (DWIH), New Delhi

Venue:
German Embassy
No. 6/50G, Shanti Path,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi 110021 (India)

Location:

6 November 2017: Is Bay of Bengal the next BRICS? An opportunity for India? Can it really do what Saarc could not?

Sourajit Aiyer

Abstract:
BRICS evolved as an economic asset-class, despite being a disparate geographical group. Is BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal group) at a similar juncture now where Brics was a few years ago? Can Bimstec really do what Saarc could not, as it essentially replaces Pakistan with Thailand? How does it stack as an opportunity for consumption, investment & production? What if emerging markets of S.E. Asia like Indonesia & Vietnam were added to make it Bimstec + I + V? This presentation would look at these aspects, to see if it does stand out?

Date: November 6, 2017
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:

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

3 November 2017: Responding to Regulatory Failure: Financial Regulation in the US since the Global Financial Crisis

Adam Feibelman
Tulane University Law School

Abstract:
The global financial crisis of 2008-09 represented, among other things, a massive and broad-ranging regulatory failure in the United States. Regulatory regimes responsible for the safety and soundness of consumer financial transactions, the banking system, and capital markets all failed to avoid the financial collapse that occurred during that time and proved insufficient to resolve it quickly to avoid follow-on effects in the real economy and across the globe. Not surprisingly, the years immediately following the collapse and crisis brought significant reforms of financial regulation in the U.S. and elsewhere. This talk will describe and assess these reforms as well as current proposals to revisit and reverse some of them.

Date: November 3, 2017
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:

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

31 October 2017: Anticipating the Function and Impact of India’s New Personal Insolvency and Bankruptcy Regime

Adam Feibelman
Tulane University Law School

Abstract:
In May of last year, India adopted a new regime for personal insolvencies and bankruptcies as part of a comprehensive Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. The regime for individuals has not yet gone into force, and many fundamental questions about its purpose and likely impact remain largely unaddressed. This talk will describe the new personal insolvency and bankruptcy regime and the likely goals of policymakers who drafted and enacted it. It will also assess the design of the regime in light of those goals and anticipate the impact of the law on private parties who might utilize it and on the broader economy.

Date: October 31, 2017
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:

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

3 November 2017: Book launch - Reaching for the sky: Empowering girls through education

Urvashi Sahni
Study Hall Educational Foundation and Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.,

Keynote Remarks:
Vrinda Sarup, former Secretary, School Education and Literacy, Ministry for Human Resource Development

Organised by:
Brookings India

Abstract:
How can gender equality can be achieved in a patriarchal society through education? How can girls learn to be equal and autonomous persons in school as part of their official curriculum? And, how can they use this learning to transform their lives and those of their families?

Reaching for the Sky illustrates how education can be truly transformative when it addresses the everyday reality of girls’ lives and responds to their special needs and challenges with respect and care. The insights and lessons from this book have important implications for wider policy-making.

Date: November 3, 2017
Time: 04:00 P.M.

Venue:
Brookings India
No. 6, Second Floor,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Note:
Please RSVP rlaik@brookingsindia.org to confirm your presence.

Location:

15-18 November 2017: Econophys-2017 Conference and the Asia Pacific Econophysics Conference (APEC)-2017

Organised by:
Jawaharlal Nehru University jointly with University of Delhi, Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics and CentraleSupélec.

Abstract:
Economic and financial markets appear to be in a permanent state of flux. Billions of agents interact with each other, giving rise to complex dynamics of economic quantities at the micro and macro level. With the availability of huge data sets, researchers can address questions at a much more granular level than was possible earlier. Fundamental questions of aggregation of actions and information, coordination, evolution of economic and financial networks have received significant importance in the current research agenda of the Econophysics literature, Parallely, Sociophysics literature has focused on large-scale social data and their inter-relations. The proposed empirical approach is a leading contender to find patterns in data, which can be very short-lived. In this meeting, we focus on questions and models to analyze such economic and social behavior.

Date: November 15-18, 2017
Time: 09:30 A.M.

Venue:
Convention Centre
Jawaharlal Nehru University
New Delhi - 110 067 (INDIA)
and
Lecture Hall
University of Delhi
University Enclave,
Delhi-110007(INDIA)

Note:
Details and Registration:
http://econophys-apec-2017.in/econophys/register.php;
http://econophys-apec-2017.in

For any queries/help please contact Ms Kiran Sharma, Conference Secretary at econophys.apec.2017@gmail.com

Location:

and

29-30 October 2017: Conference - Improving public healthcare through fiscal federalism

Organised by:
Brookings India in partnership with the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, the Forum of Federations (Canada) and the Inter-State Council.

Abstract:
This conference seeks to provide an opportunity to deliberate over the critical issues of public health in India and to discuss how we relate to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for improved healthcare.

Date: October 29-30, 2017
Time: 09:30 A.M.

Venue:
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
Teen Murthi Bhavan
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)

Note:
Kindly RSVP dgupta@brookingsindia.org to confirm your presence.

Location:

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11 October 2017: How to fit a jump diffusion model to return prices?

Francine Diener
Laboratoire Jean Dieudonné, Nice, France

Abstract:
In 1976, R. C. Merton extended the classical (continuous) Black-Scholes model for return prices to models known as jump diffusion models for which the return prices have large jumps intersperced with small continuous movements. Useful, for example, for commodity prices, especially when they are not very liquid, their main disad vantage is that it is not easy to calibrate the parameters of the model to existing data. Indeed introduction of jumps adds three extra parameters, λ, m and s to the original Black-Scholes ones, μ and σ.

In this talk, we introduce a new method to estimate the three jump-parameters and show how to do on an example of rubber return prices on the Thai market.

Date: October 11, 2017
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall,
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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10 October 2017: Microcredit: stochastic et statistical approaches for understanding and rating

Marc Diener
Laboratoire Jean Dieudonné, Nice, France

Abstract:
Microcredit has been invented in the Indian subcontinent and is still getting more and more popular, even if facing a lot of critisism. I will explain how, in Nice, we understand this still unusual financial activity and the kind of elementary mathematical research we perform. We will begin with an example given by M. Yunus that shows that the expected interest rate in this example is 3% less than the admitted 20%. Then we will come up with a Markov chain model directly inspired by G. Tedeschi that can explain why a borrower prefers to pay what she owes. O. Khodr could then adress the question of modelling joint-lending. We will improve this model into Nahla Dhib’s model for improving the microcredit activity into a path to Inclusion (into the regular banking system). We will also present the result of P. Mauk’s research on Ahlin and Townsend’s data from Thailand on selecting parsimoniously variables for estimating the probability of default of a borrower that can’t produce a credit-history. If time allows we will describe Tedeschi’s statistical approach of impact assessment

Date: October 10, 2017
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Hall,
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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30 October 2017: The IMF's Latest World Economic and Financial Outlook

Andreas Bauer
International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Abstract:
The presentation will provide an overview of the findings of the IMF’s World Economic Outlook, Global Financial Stability Report, and Fiscal Monitor, including the latest round of macroeconomic forecasts for the global economy. The implications of the external outlook for India’s economy will also be discussed.

Date: October 30, 2017
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:

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

4 October 2017: Panel discussion on "Journalism in the digital era- the new rules of engagement"

Abstract:
The event will examine how the practice of journalism has changed with the advent of the digital era, exploring in particular the manner in which the use of social media by publications and journalists has changed the rules of reporter-reader engagement. The panelists will discuss their experience interacting with their readership, both the unprecedented level of dialogue they enjoy with their readers, as well as the less-constructive interaction the development has enabled.

Date: October 4, 2017
Time: 02:00 P.M.

Venue:
American Center,
24, Kasturba Gandhi Marg,
New Delhi - 110001(INDIA)

Location:


Note:
Please register at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenBw9nIADhWB_cupx9h7aEPHDSOw5NPKTvZhIOYgzsC3lkGA/viewform

6 October 2017: Government Financing of Healthcare in India since 2005: Achievements and Challenges

Peter Berman, Manjiri Bhawalkar
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and
Rajesh Jha, Offbeat Innovations

Abstract:
Government funding for health and primary healthcare in India is clearly insufficient. Low levels of resource mobilisation, however, is only part of the problem when it comes to improving the health outcomes in the country. Poor resource allocation and low budget utilisation exacerbate the inadequacy of financial resources for health. Effective allocation and utilisation is also constrained by public financial management design, operational processes, and governance factors.

In this talk led by Prof Peter Berman, the team from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will present trends in government financing of healthcare in India from 2005 to 2014 across 29 states. The talk is based on findings from an upcoming study on “Government Financing of Healthcare in India since 2005: What was achieved, what was not and why”. The focus will be on primary care, and the session will explore the substitution effect of central government funding for primary care in richer states along with systemic and capacity constraints that result in low budget utilisation. The study will focus on specific references to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh in contrast with states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Kerala where some of the practices show far better budget utilisation.

Date: October 6, 2017
Time: 03:30 P.M.

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

Location:

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17 October 2017: Safety Trends and Reporting of Crime - A crime victimisation survey in four major cities of India

Avanti Durani
IDFC Institute

Abstract:
Public safety and security are critical for good quality of life. While there seems to be an agreement on the weak performance of both the police and the courts, this has not yet translated into a large-scale attempt at reform. The official records on crime and response by the police are hugely insufficient in gauging the scale of the problem due to widespread under-reporting, among other deficiencies. Safety Trends and Reporting of Crime (SATARC), IDFC Institute’s flagship survey, is an attempt to marshal evidence, in a systematic way, about the extent and nature of crime, satisfaction with police, and perceptions of safety. The SATARC survey aims to bridge this gap in public data on safety and crime.

Date: October 17, 2017
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:

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

22 September 2017: The role of big data to evaluate Aadhaar

Ronald Abraham and Elizabeth Bennett
IDinsight

Organised by:
International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie)

Chair:
Emmanuel Jimenez, International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie)

Discussant:
Ajay Shah, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP),

Abstract:
Aadhaar has become a seemingly ubiquitous component of a wide range of government and private sector services. However, there are significant gaps in our understanding of Aadhaar’s coverage and performance—especially when it comes to understanding the full range of impacts of the identity system.

In this seminar, IDinsight’s Ronald Abraham and Elizabeth Bennett will present excerpts from their State of Aadhaar Report 2016-17, which provides an overview of the Aadhaar landscape and highlights areas for future research. The conversation will then pivot to the role of primary research and big data in evaluating Aadhaar.

IDinsight’s State of Aadhaar initiative aims to catalyse discourse and inform decision-making in the Aadhaar ecosystem. To achieve this objective, the State of Aadhaar website provides up-to-date data, research, news, and official documentation on Aadhaar.

Date: September 22, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Hall 3,
Kamala Devi Complex,
India International Centre,
New Delhi – 110001 (India)

Location:

20 September 2017: Discussion on The Future of Global Health: Challenges and Opportunities

Michael Merson
Duke University

Organised by:
The American Center and Duke University

Date: September 20, 2017
Time: 04:00 P.M.

Venue:
The American Center
24, Kasturba Gandhi Marg
New Delhi 110 001 (India)

Location:


Note:
Please register here

21 September 2017: Identifying Earnings Management in Indian companies

Deep Narayan Mukherjee
Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta

Discussant:
Amey Sapre, NIPFP

Abstract:
Study on earnings management of Indian companies may not be frequent, but there are quite a few substantial works on this topic. Most of them come to the conclusion that the problem of earnings management is quite rampant. However, earnings management related studies and their results are not "mainstream" among investors or regulators. That is despite the observation that in cases of big ticket NPA, banks often request for a forensic analysis of the defaulter's financial statement. In an effort to enable identification of companies with potential accounting issues, and thus requiring further in depth analysis of those companies, our team has developed a score. The premise of the work being that earnings management is the start of financial manipulations. The team has made certain analytical enhancements to address shortcomings of existing approaches of accounting pertinent to growth economies such as India.

Date: September 21, 2017
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:

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

7 September 2017: Mutual Fund Flows and Funds Strategic Behavior When Investors Are Inattentive

Apoorva Javadekar
CAFRAL

Abstract:
The paper builds on a simple yet novel idea that the way investors react to the recent mutual fund performance depends largely upon the long-term historical performance of that fund. In particular, I find that investors react more actively to the funds recent performance in case of the funds with good performance history. I show that these effects are strongest for funds which are likely to attract attentive investors such as funds having more visibility or funds with high entry loads. Next, I show that investors who are less responsive to the fund performance are also less responsive to the changes in fund fees which suggest that \textit{investor inattention} rather than any other rational decision-making process that explains the sluggish capital flows. I build a model which shows how the concentration of attentive investors within fund rise with the historical performance which feeds into more reactive capital flows. I provide evidence that mutual funds are aware of the varying degree of investor responsiveness and they adjust their pricing and portfolio risk to maximize the revenue.

Date: September 7, 2017
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room No. 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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8 September 2017: Whatever it takes: The Real Effects of Unconventional Monetary Policy

Viral Acharya
Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India.

Abstract:
Launched in Summer 2012, the European Central Bank (ECB)’s Outright Monetary Transactions (OMT) program indirectly recapitalized European banks through its positive impact on periphery sovereign bonds. However, the stability re-established in the banking sector did not fully translate into economic growth. We document zombie lending by banks that remained undercapitalized even post-OMT. In turn, firms receiving loans used these funds not to undertake real economic activity such as employment and investment but to build up cash reserves. Creditworthy firms in industries with a high zombie firm prevalence suffered significantly from this credit misallocation, which further slowed down the economic recovery.

Date: September 8, 2017
Time: 06:00 P.M.

Venue:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Auditorium
Brookings India
No. 6, Second Floor,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP to dgupta@brookingsindia.org

6 September 2017: The impact of the GST on Indian investment

Gaurav S. Ghosh
Ernst & Young

Abstract:
The GST is the most far-reaching restructuring of the Indian tax regime since independence. Its impacts will ramify through all sectors of the Indian economy, from investment through production and consumption. We focus specifically on the impact of the GST on incentives to invest in India. To do this, we measure the tax cost of investment in the pre-GST and post-GST environments, and compare these costs across sectors and at the all-India level. Our metric for the tax cost of investment is the Marginal Effective Tax Rate (“METR”), a statistic measuring the tax wedge imposed upon a marginal investment, where the tax wedge is defined as the difference between the gross-of-tax return on capital and the net-of-tax return on capital for a marginal firm. The use of METRs to evaluate tax systems has a long history in many countries, but ours is its first implementation for the Indian economy. We find that the GST improves investment incentives by moderately reducing the tax burden. Further improvements can be made by streamlining the GST system, primarily by unblocking input tax credits in core sectors of the Indian economy. We also find that METRs vary significantly across Indian industries, and that the impact of the GST on investment incentives in these sectors is also heterogeneous.

Date: September 6, 2017
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:

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

1 September 2017: The Cost of Distance: Geography and Governance in Rural India

Karan Nagpal
University of Oxford

Abstract:
Rural economic outcomes deteriorate with distance from cities and towns. We use a spatial regression discontinuity design to provide causal evidence for one channel through which this effect operates: the geography of public administration. Using a rich spatial dataset on Indian villages and their local administrative capitals, we show that a greater distance from capitals reduces the provision of public goods. More distant villages also have lower literacy rates and reduced participation in non-farm activities. To estimate these effects causally, we exploit administrative boundaries that generate sharp jumps in distance to local administration capitals, but not in conventional measures of market access such as distance to towns and highways and population density. We discuss a number of mechanisms that explain these results, including monitoring and provision costs, information asymmetries and citizen voice.

Date: September 1, 2017
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:

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

11 August 2017: Immigration and its Discontents: International Migration after Brexit, Brussels, and Trump

Neeraj Kaushal
Columbia University

Abstract:
Immigration has become a hot button issue. From Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, and Germany to Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United States, it is churning electoral politics. A hundred years ago, similar discontents resulted in severe restrictions on immigration. Will history repeat itself? Neeraj Kaushal will discuss the primary drivers these discontents, whether and how these discontents are related to immigration, and how they would shape the future of international migration.

Organised by:
Brookings India

Date: August 11, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Auditorium
Brookings India
No. 6, Second Floor,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP to sgupta@brookingsindia.org

28 July 2017: America's Economic Anxiety

Jonathan Morduch
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service

Discussant:
Shamika Ravi, Brookings India & Brookings Institution

Abstract:
The traditional narrative about financial success in America is that hard work, steady saving, and a little bit of luck will ensure financial security, a comfortable retirement, and a better future for one’s children. But, as the 2016 elections demonstrated, large numbers of Americans feel that the “American Dream” is increasingly out of reach. Their insecurity is so pronounced that when asked by Pew Charitable Trusts if they would rather be a little richer or have a more stable financial life, 92 percent of Americans chose stability. In The Financial Diaries: How American Families Cope in a World of Uncertainty, Jonathan Morduch and Rachel Schneider explain why this is happening – and what needs to change – based on the results of their ground- breaking study, the U.S. Financial Diaries (USFD). Further details about the book can be found here.

Organised by:
Brookings India

Date: July 28, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Auditorium
Brookings India
No. 6, Second Floor,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP to sgupta@brookingsindia.org

21 July 2017: Launch: Brookings India Health Monitor and panel discussion

Event Agenda:
Introductory remarks: Dr. Harsha Vardhana Singh, Brookings India
Presentation: Dr. Shamika Ravi, Brookings India
Keynote Address: Shri. CK. Mishra, Secretary MoHFW, Government of India

Panel Discussion: Better Health Data for Better Health Policy
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan (DG, ICMR & Secretary, Health Research, Govt of India)
Mr. Alok Kumar (Advisor - Health and Nutrition, NITI Aayog, Govt of India)
Dr. Naresh Trehan (Chairman and MD, Medanta)
Mr. Swaminathan Aiyar (Prominent Indian Journalist)

Moderator:
Dr. Shamika Ravi, Brookings India

Abstract:
The Brookings India Health Monitor brings together real time data, research and powerful analytics of India’s healthcare sector on a common platform. This is created using publicly available data from across all states and Union Territories of India. It enables policy makers, corporates and researchers to access, monitor and analyse real time health measures at a highly disaggregated district level. We have developed health indexes at state and district levels for Quality and Quantity of health infrastructure which will be updated on a real time basis. We also propose to develop indexes for Maternal health, Child health, Communicable Diseases and Non-communicable Diseases for all states of India.

Our aim is to democratize health data by making it publicly available through easy-to-understand, real time indexes at highly disaggregated level (district of India). We believe that having access to this information can be helpful for local level policy makers as well as to the health industry for core business or corporate social responsibility (CSR). Our informatics is already being used by the NITI Aayog and the Uttar Pradesh health ministry.

Organised by:
Brookings India

Date: July 21, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Brookings India
No. 6, Second Floor,
Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Location:

Note:
Please RSVP sgupta@brookingsindia.org, to reserve seat for you.

25 July 2017: The Risk Premium on Balance Sheet Capacity

Anusar Farooqui
Indian Institute of Management, Udaipur

Abstract:
We show that exposure to shocks to the balance sheet capacity of US securities broker-dealers carries a significant risk premium. We construct a novel measure of dealer risk appetite and show that it is priced in the cross-section of expected stock excess returns; even after controlling for benchmark risk factors (MKT, SMB, HML, RMW, CMA, MOM and VOL). We document that risk appetite, median book-to-market ratio, the term spread and the difference in market and average excess returns are, independently and jointly, statistically significant predictors of future market excess returns. Armed with these four return-forecasting factors, we estimate dynamic pricing models with constant betas and time-varying prices of risk. We document significant time-variation in the intermediary risk premium and show that it has a natural macro-financial interpretation. In particular, we show that, unlike the premiums on benchmark factors, it is highly procyclical and gets extraordinarily compressed during periods of stock market exuberance such as that of the late-1990s. We find significant macroeconomic information embedded in the intermediary risk premium. Specifically, we show that the intermediary risk premium is both a significant contemporaneous correlate and a significant predictor of quarterly innovations in the US growth rate. We further show that the time-varying intermediary risk premium dwarfs the premiums on benchmark factors. Finally, we construct a factor mimicking portfolio for risk appetite and show that it sports a Sharpe ratio at least twice as large as benchmark factor portfolios.

Date: July 25, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room (First Floor) 
Department of Economics,
Delhi School of Economics,
New Delhi-110007(INDIA)

Location:

21 July 2017: State of the police forces: Some insights on expenditure, personnel, infrastructure, and accountability

Mandira Kala and Anviti Chaturvedi
PRS Legislative Research

Abstract:
Policing and law order issues come primarily under the states. However, the centre also maintains its police forces to provide states with assistance for matters that have wider internal security implications. This talk will address expenditure on police, and compare spending by various states and centre. It will provide an overview of how police is organised, and discuss issues faced by the police personnel. This will include an analysis of vacancies across centre and states, working conditions of police, and issues with crime investigation. We will also discuss findings of CAG audits and Bureau of Police Research and Development, with regard to availability of weaponry, vehicles, communication equipment, and funds for infrastructure modernisation. Lastly, the session will analyse the efforts being made by states to set up institutions for police accountability, and institution to protect police from political interference, in light of directions of the Supreme Court.

Date: July 21, 2017
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:

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

18 July 2017: Emerging infectious diseases in a city: dengue and chikungunya in Delhi

Olivier Telle
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
This presentation will focus on the dengue and chikungunya viruses, which are two of the most common vector borne diseases affecting urban areas around the world. In India and Delhi, these two viruses are spreading rapidly, infecting lakhs of individuals every year. The aim of this study is to underline 1) the geography of these diseases over several years in Delhi 2) the factors that lead to continuous spread within endemic cities –from urban complexity to political organization of urban/epidemic responses. After presenting some short term solutions that can help in controlling disease diffusion, this presentation will be an opportunity to re-evaluate the links between evolution of cities, intra-urban environmental disparities and the issue of sanitation within urban areas.

Date: July 18, 2017
Time: 03:30 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:

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

28 July 2017: Behavioural insights for policy interventions: exploring the how and why?

Bhuvanesh Awasthi
Epistemic Consultants and Neuroscience Outreach

Abstract:
Human perception, emotion and decision making underlies all policy-making and implementation. In recent years, several organizations across the globe, such as the World bank, the European Commission, the OECD, governments in Australia, the UK, The Netherlands, Germany, France, Denmark, and the USA, are increasingly incorporating behavioural sciences in policy-making.

With the overarching goal of guiding the policy design, implementation and re-assessments that achieve their objectives at minimum cost, cognitive and behavioural insights has been crucial in legislation, regulatory and consumer protection interventions. In the proposed session, with examples from several countries, we shall explore the role of behavioural interventions in reshaping public policy in a wide range of domains, in particular employment, consumer protection, health and taxation.

Date: July 28, 2017
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:

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

25 July 2017: Cognitive and neural foundations of human decision making: implications for policy

Bhuvanesh Awasthi
Epistemic Consultants and Neuroscience Outreach

Abstract:
How do humans make choices? What are the cognitive and neural mechanisms underlying risky decision making? What can public policy and administration learn from research on neuroscience of cognition and behaviour? Here, we shall explore insights from cognitive science of social perception, social conformity, empathy training and ethical behaviour with implications for public policy.

Date: July 25, 2017
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:

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

12 July 2017: 2017 India Policy Forum Lecture - "Avoiding the morning-after blues: Building state capability while times are good"

Lant Pritchett
Harvard Kennedy School

Date: July 12, 2017
Time: 06:30 P.M.

Venue:
The Royal Ballroom,
Imperial Hotel
Janpath Lane, Connaught Place,
New Delhi-110 001(India)

Location:


Note:
RSVP: Ms Sudesh Bala at sbala@ncaer.org or on +91-11-2345-2722.

14 July 2017: Book launch for "Where India Goes: Abandoned Toilets, Stunted Development, and the Costs of Caste"

Diane Coffey
and
Dean Spears
Research Institute for Compassionate Economics (RICE)

Abstract:
Where India Goes is a new book about an old problem. The majority of rural Indians do not use a toilet or latrine. Open defecation kills thousands of children in India each year, stunts the physical and cognitive development of those who survive, and has consequences for everyone in India. With the launch of the Swachh Bharat Mission in 2014, sanitation is not merely a human development emergency -- it is now also a policy priority. Yet, the history of sanitation policy proves that latrine construction is not enough to address the reasons why rural Indians reject the kind of affordable latrines provided by the government, and which have greatly reduced open defecation in other countries. Where India Goes challenges us to consider how health and human development can be advanced while social inequality remains so profound.

Date: July 14, 2017
Time: 07:20 P.M.

Venue:
Juniper Room,
India Habitat Centre,
Lodi Road,
New Delhi – 110 003(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
For details: Please contact Ms. Sangita Vyas at sangita@riceinstitute.org

14 July 2017: Place-based Preferential Tax Policy and its Spatial Effects: Evidence from India’s Program on Industrially Backward Districts

Yi Jiang and Rana Hasan
Asian Development Bank

Abstract:
Indian government initiated a program in 1994 to promote manufacturing in districts designated “backwards”. The way the backwards districts were identified enables us to employ a regression discontinuity design to evaluate the impacts of the program. We find that the program’s 5-year tax exemption to manufacturers led to a significant increase in firm entry and employment in relatively better-off backward districts, particularly in light manufacturing industries. However, the program also resulted in negative spillover effects on districts which were neighbouring these backward districts and relatively weaker in economic activity. The findings emphasise that the spatial effects of place-based policies deserve greater attention from policy makers.

Date: July 14, 2017
Time: 03:30 P.M.

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

Location:

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Note:
RSVP at partha@cprindia.org

5 July 2017: Dinner conversation and Q&A with Rob Sherman

Rob Sherman
Facebook

Moderator:
Arun Sukumar, Observer Research Foundation 

Abstract:
The conversation will highlight global trends in privacy and data protection regimes, and the role of companies like Facebook in contributing – both through its platforms as well as policy interventions – to these trends. Facebook has over 184 million monthly users in India with 95% accessing the website through their mobile phones. WhatsApp has more than 200 million users in India, making the country its largest market in the world. Facebook will be a crucial interlocutor as India’s digital economy grows rapidly over the next few years -- with the growth in connectivity, the rolling out of public hotspots by Facebook across the country, and the government’s push for adoption of digital payments, privacy and data protection will need special attention. With Facebook and other online service providers expanding its user base and services in India, privacy and security features of their platforms will assume centre stage and even influence its future growth in the Indian market.

Date: July 5, 2017
Time: 07:00 P.M.

Venue:
Villa Medici
Taj Mahal Hotel,
1, Mansingh Road,
New Delhi-110 011(India)

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP to madhulika.srikumar@orfonline.org to reserve a seat for you.

Cancelled due to unforeseen reasons: 6 July 2017: Elements of Effective Macroprudential Policy: Lessons from International Experience

Dong He
International Monetary Fund

Abstract:
Experience with macroprudential policy is growing. A large number of countries have put in place dedicated institutional arrangements. Progress is being made also with the design and implementation of macroprudential tools, and an increasing body of empirical research is available that evaluates the effectiveness of macroprudential policy. Responding to a G20 mandate, a recent joint IMF-FSB-BIS paper takes stock of the experiences gained so far regarding elements and practices that can be useful for effective macroprudential policy making. The seminar will introduce the paper, covering institutional arrangements, including mandates and governance, powers, and arrangements for domestic cooperation, and review operational considerations, such as the selection of policy tools and how they are employed. It will also touch upon issues related to international consistency of macroprudential policy.

Date: July 6, 2017
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:

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

6 July 2017: Elements of Effective Macroprudential Policy: Lessons from International Experience

Dong He
International Monetary Fund

Abstract:
Experience with macroprudential policy is growing. A large number of countries have put in place dedicated institutional arrangements. Progress is being made also with the design and implementation of macroprudential tools, and an increasing body of empirical research is available that evaluates the effectiveness of macroprudential policy. Responding to a G20 mandate, a recent joint IMF-FSB-BIS paper takes stock of the experiences gained so far regarding elements and practices that can be useful for effective macroprudential policy making. The seminar will introduce the paper, covering institutional arrangements, including mandates and governance, powers, and arrangements for domestic cooperation, and review operational considerations, such as the selection of policy tools and how they are employed. It will also touch upon issues related to international consistency of macroprudential policy.

Date: July 6, 2017
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:

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

22 June 2017: Mapping Land Conflicts in India

Kumar Sambhav Shrivastava, Ankur Paliwal, and Bhasker Tripathy

Abstract:
India’s ambitious agenda for industrial and infrastructure growth requires large swathes of land. At the same time, a huge part of its population uses land to earn livelihood. The competing demands cause conflicts. The battles over land are increasing across India irrespective of political cultures, be it left, right or centre. These conflicts have deep implications for the wellbeing of India's people, institutions, investments, and long-term development. They point towards deep structural flaws in the country's social, agrarian, and institutional structures, including ambiguities in property rights regimes and institutions.

An analysis of 331 ongoing land conflicts in India reveals that together they affect close to 36 lakhs people and span over 10 lakhs hectares of land. The total investments (indicative) tied to these conflicts are around Rs.12 lakhs crore. The data was collected between January 2016 and March 2017 by Land Conflict Watch, a research-based data journalism project that maps land conflicts across India. In this presentation, we address how, why, and where these conflicts are emerging and what are the implications of these conflicts for local communities and investment policies in India. We find that in contrast to accepted wisdom, the majority of land conflicts in India are revolving around common lands rather than private lands. We argue that in order to sustain and expand India's socioeconomic development, it is imperative that the government respect communities' land rights, including Forest Rights Act 2006 and ensure that their formal as well as customary jurisdiction over commons is recognised and respected.

Date: June 22, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

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

Location:

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Note:
RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSel5phH02g_Gdbtqg2DmmmqJesdSInlOAzCjdSOuFn2yMwuIg/viewform?c=0&w=1

27 June 2017: Presentation of India Development Update: May 2017 Unlocking Women's Potential

Presenter:
Frederico Gil Sander
World Bank

Chair Person:
Rathin Roy, Director, NIPFP

Discussants:
N R Bhanumurthy, Professor, NIPFP and
Sher Singh Verick, Deputy Director, ILO Decent Work Team for South Asia and Country Office for India

Abstract:
The India Development Update is the World Bank’s twice-yearly report on the Indian economy and its prospects. This edition has topical notes on the demonetization experiment (did it curb black money?), an analysis of recent fiscal policy developments (should we be worried about states’ borrowing?), and an update on trade policy and performance (is the talk of protectionism being translated into action?)

Each edition also includes timely thematic notes, and a focus chapter on an issue of structural importance for India’s long-term development. The theme of the May 2017 India Development Update is “Unlocking Women’s Talent”. India has one of the lowest female participation rates in the world, ranking 120th among the 131 countries for which data are available. Worse still, the rate has been declining since 2005, and even among highly educated women (those with a diploma or university degree) only 1/3 are in the labor market. The shallower talent pool – including managerial and entrepreneurial talent – comes at a cost to economic growth. Why are so few women in the labor market, and what can be done about it?

Date: June 27, 2013
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
NIPFP Auditorium, Ground Floor
Main Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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Note:
For details: Please contact nrbmurthy@gmail.com

13 June 2017: What is the "state" of India's public finances?

Sajjid Chinoy
J.P. Morgan

Abstract:
After becoming the epitome of fiscal discipline in the mid-2000s, India’s state finances have markedly worsened in recent years and risks have increased going forward. What has driven the deterioration? How pervasive is it? More importantly what are the implications? While there has been much analysis of how worsening state finances impact the consolidated deficit and debt dynamics, we focus on how worsening state finances have caused state bond spreads to spike and show how these higher borrowing costs spill-over onto corporate bond spreads. This, in turn, pushes up borrowing costs for the private sector, and risks crowding out of the corporate bond market, precisely when the banking sector is under stress. We discuss these developments in the larger macroeconomic context at the moment, and suggest policy and market measures to rein in state fiscal deficits.

Date: June 13, 2017
Time: 04:30 P.M.

Venue:
NIPFP Auditorium, Ground Floor
Main Building
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy,
18/2 Satsang Vihar Marg, Special Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110067(INDIA)

Location:

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

17 May 2017: Talk on 'The Future We Need: Natural Resources as a Shared Inheritance'

Rahul Basu
Goa Foundation, Goenchi Mati Movement (GMM), and The Future We Need (TFWN)

Abstract:
Natural resources include our environment, minerals, and land. From an economic standpoint, land and minerals are the most valuable. Wealth attracts thieves, adventurers, rent seekers and crony capitalists. It is not surprising that mining encourages corruption, as private parties attempt to capture most of the value through "legal" but fundamentally illegitimate contracts. This in turn drives environment and human rights violations, which give rise to conflict. Iron ore mining in Goa has become a contentious issue between government and civil society. In his talk, Rahul will speak about the work of the Goa Foundation, an environmental NGO, in raising awareness about mining as Goa’s largest environmental issue for over twenty five years. He will describe the Supreme Court's decision in the Goa Mining case, where the Court was concerned with the rapid depletion of iron ore, and wanted a practical method of implementing the principle of "intergenerational equity", earlier ruled by the Court to be a part of the "Right to Life". Goa Foundation uses the "public trust" doctrine and the "intergenerational equity" principle to propose an ethical, fair and just resolution to the issue in the form of the "fair mining" proposal. This proposal has support from the Constitution, our traditions and customs, economics and global best practices. Rahul will explain how the "fair mining" proposal reduces poverty, slows growing inequality, reduces corruption and crony capitalism, improves governance and even creates a palatable 'Universal Basic Income'. As a result of a recommendation from the Goa Foundation, the Supreme Court has ordered the creation of the Goa Iron Ore Permanent Fund. This is intended to be a savings fund akin to the oil funds of Norway and Alaska. The Supreme Court has also ruled the last five years of iron ore mining in Goa to be illegal. While giving rise to enormous claims on the miners (as illegal mining is equivalent to theft of public property), it also gave the Goa government a clean slate. It had full freedom to redesign its mining sector. The Goenchi Mati Movement issued a manifesto for the Goa State Assembly elections showing how these principles could be put into practice. The manifesto was supported by the mining affected, mining dependent, and even a miner. It has also been supported by four political parties including AAP, as well as the Archbishop of Goa, the Shadow Chancellor of the UK, and a broad spectrum of civil society.

Date: May 17, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

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

Location:

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16 May 2017: The rule of law, global prosperity and strategic calculation: the stakes for the Indo-Pacific region and the world of China’s rise

Brian Lee Crowley
Macdonald-Laurier Institute, Ottawa, Canada

Chair:
Abhijit Singh, Head, Maritime Policy Initiative, ORF 

Date: May 16, 2016
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
ORF Conference Room
Observer Research Foundation
20 Rouse Avenue Institutional Area
New Delhi-110002(INDIA)

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP to orfevents@orfonline.org

15 May 2017: Word from the Frontlines of Demonetization: Perspective’s & Lessons Learnt from India’s Largest Cash Management Company

Rajiv Kaul
CMS Info Systems Ltd.

Abstract:
Nov 8th, 2016 will go down in the Indian Economy as a red letter day, when literally overnight the Rs. 500 and Rs.1000 banknotes were demonetised. The first two weeks, and then the prolonged aftermath affected us at an individual, industry, sectoral and economic level. As India’s largest ATM cash management company, handling more than 50% of all ATM cash replenishment, and the largest retail cash collection service, with a presence across 95% of all the districts in India, CMS was at the frontline of managing this exercise in evacuation, recalibration and replenishment of ATMs. This presentation delves into the company's singular experience in handling and surviving Demonetisation, leadership lessons in coping with an increasingly chaotic ecosystem, while giving some insights into the cash cycle of our country, how the multiple entities that affect it moved in cohesion or otherwise.

Date: May 15, 2017
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:

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

5 May 2017: The Business of Religion and Caste in India

Manaswini Bhalla
IIM Bangalore

Abstract:
We show that boards of directors of large Indian firms are characterized by high levels of cultural proximity, with members on a board belonging overwhelmingly to the same religion or caste. Using a unique database of self-reported religions and caste from matrimonial websites, we develop a novel methodology to proba- bilistically map individuals last names to religions and castes. We also develop a new homophily index to measure cultural proximity of board members. Results show few signs of increase in cultural diversity on boards during 1999-2012. Modest heterogeneity exists across firms, sectors, and states, however. Better performing firms have more diverse boards. Board diversity also increased in sectors and states that witnessed the largest increases in output. Rigorous instrument variable analysis demonstrates that lack of diversity on boards is causally associated with lower firm performance.

Date: May 5, 2017
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
Class Room No. 14
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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