5 April 2017: Regulatory framework for IFSC in India: The experience of GIFT IFSC

Dipesh Shah
Gujarat International Finance Tec-City Co. Ltd. (GIFT)

Abstract:
International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) is considered as a game changer for providing International Financial Services from Global Financial Centre in India. In the absence of IFSC in India, it is estimated that India is losing around US $ 50 billion per year (2015) which will grow to US $ 120 billion by 2025.

Govt. of India announced regulatory frame work for IFSC in India on April 10, 2015. In a short span of two years, GIFT International Financial Services Centre has attracted International Financial Services with 9 Banks, 4 Insurance Companies, 2 leading Exchanges and around 100 broking entities. The banking vertical have already completed around USD 2 billion transactions from GIFT IFSC. International Exchange for the first time in the country started trading of foreign stock futures covering Google, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft and JP Morgan. The experience of GIFT IFSC in this regard is useful learning for the development of International Financial Services Centre in India.

Date: April 5, 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

27-28 March 2017: Workshop on Labour Migration and Social Change in South Asia

Organised by:
Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and
French Centre for Social Sciences and Humanities (CSH) supported by Tata Trusts’ SHRAMIC initiative

Program

Abstract:
Though the movement of people in pursuit of work is not new, labour migration appears to be a growing phenomenon in the South Asian region. Empirical studies and papers analysing government data have shown that migration is not a simple movement from village to city in this region, but involves multiple streams and patterns including short-term, iterative, permanent and return migration across short and long distances. This workshop explores aspects that link human mobility and social transformation in sending and receiving communities, especially in the context of labour migration.

This workshop has been conceived as a platform for young researchers, scholars and practitioners to share their work and receive feedback from experienced and knowledgeable experts. The 15-odd papers being presented have been selected from over 70 entries in response to a call for papers in December 2016 and represent the work of young researchers across the South Asia region.

Date: March 27-28, 2017
Time: 09:30 A.M.

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

Location:

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24 March 2017: Using Technology to Strengthen Democracy

Shamika Ravi
Brookings India

Discussant:
S.Y. Quraishi, former Chief Election Commission, India

Abstract:
Free and fair elections are cornerstones of democracy. In India, electronic voting machines (EVMs) were introduced with the objective of reducing electoral fraud. We exploit the phased roll-out of the EVMs in state assembly elections to study its impact on electoral fraud, democracy, and development. Our main findings are: (i) Introductions of EVMs led to a significant decline in electoral frauds, particularly in politically sensitive states which were subjected to frequent re-polls due to electoral rigging. (ii) It strengthened the weaker and the vulnerable sections of the society (women and the scheduled castes and tribe) who were now more likely to cast their vote. (iii) It made the electoral process more competitive whereby the winning margin and the vote share of the winning party declined. (iv) Using the luminosity data, we find that EVMs led to an increase in the provision of electricity. (v) Lastly, we find evidence that EVMs resulted in significant decline in crimes, such as murder and rape (violence against women). Complete paper can be found here: http://brook.gs/2mF63el. This paper is co-authored with Dr. Sisir Debnath (ISB) and Dr. Mudit Kapoor (ISI).

Organised by:
Brookings India

Date: March 24, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Kamalnayan Bajaj Conference Room,
Brookings India
Second Floor,
6, Dr. Jose P. Rizal Marg,
Chanakyapuri,
New Delhi-110021

Location:


Note:
Please RSVP shamika.ravi@brookingsindia.org to reserve a seat for you.

13 April 2017: Enhancing Energy Efficiency in Urban India

Ajay Mathur
The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI)

Moderator: Isher Judge Ahluwalia, ICRIER

Date: April 13, 2017
Time: 07:00 P.M.

Venue:
Gulmohar Hall,
India Habitat Centre,
Lodi Road,
New Delhi 110003(India)

Location:

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27 March 2017: Three Forces Converging on Financial Services

Tiff Macklem
Rotman School of Management, University of Toronto

Chair: Jaimini Bhagwati, ICRIER

Abstract:
Over the last 10 years, three forces have converged on the financial services industry: regulatory change, culture and disruption. In response to the 2008 financial crisis, the Financial Stability Board under the direction of the G20 introduced sweeping regulatory changes that have had far-reaching impacts. But rules and regulations are only effective for what we can measure – for everything else there is culture. In the wake of a series of scandals and large regulatory fines, banks and the regulators have become increasingly attuned to the importance of culture. Finally while global banks have focused on implementing regulatory changes and course correcting their culture, thousands of new FinTech companies, as well as large technology companies, have opened a new competitive frontier in financial services.

Tiff Macklem, will speak to these three issues. Dean Macklem will conclude with some speculative comments on how the Trump presidency may influence these trends.

Date: March 27, 2017
Time: 10:30 A.M.

Venue:
ICRIER Conference Room,
Core 6A, 4th Floor,
India Habitat Centre, Lodi Road,
New Delhi – 110 003(INDIA)

Location:

10 March 2017: Talk on "Intellectual Migration: skilled Indian migration to/from the US, preliminary findings"

Wei Li
Arizona State University

Abstract:
Based on a new conceptual framework of intellectual migration , this talk presents some preliminary findings of the author’s Fulbright-Nehru Flex Award project. It will include initial results of an online survey among India college students’ intention to study abroad and possible return to India, and their assessment of India and the U.S.; and the reasoning and experiences of Indian returnees with US degrees to/from the U.S. Collaborating with Indian host/research assistants, this project is an integral part of a larger project to examine a spectrum of Chinese and Indian highly-skilled migration (pre-migration domestic students, migrating students/professionals, and return/onward migrants) in transnational connections and brain circulation.

Date: March 10, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

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

Location:

7 March 2017: Financing Micro and Small firms during the Great Recession

Megha Patnaik
Stanford University

Abstract:
I examine the role of bank lending frictions and the housing-collateral lending channel for small business credit in the US during the Great Recession. I use a new dataset from a leading online accounting software with millions of financial transactions, links to banks, and owner and firm addresses for small businesses. Using the failure of banks and movements in house prices in the business owners home ZIP code during this period as shocks to credit supply, I find that bank failures are associated with declines in credit for small firms (small businesses with 10 to 250 employees) but not micro firms (those with 2 to 10 employees). In contrast, movements in house prices at the owners location are positively associated with credit for micro firms but not small firms. The results suggest differences within small businesses in the channels used to overcome asymmetric information. Micro firms may depend more on personal housing collateral and small firms on lending relationships, consistent with the associated costs to lenders.

Date: March 7, 2017
Time: 03:30 P.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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16 March 2017: Zero Rating of Content: The Power in the Middle

D. Manjunath
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Abstract:
Zero rating platforms allow a content provider to pay the ISP for the consumption of its data by a user; the user gets to consume for free. This is differential pricing and hence violates neutrality. We analyze the market structures that can emerge when zero rating is permitted.

Date: March 16, 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

10 March 2017: Discussion on Contemporary Issues in the Electricity Sector – twenty-five years of reforms

Organised by:
Prayas (Energy Group)

Abstract:
Many Sparks but Little Light: The Rhetoric and Practice of Electricity Sector Reforms in India
Since 1991, several reforms have been attempted in the electricity sector — indeed, the entire energy sector. Over this period, PEG has keenly followed and participated in the reforms process as a proactive, independent organisation offering constructive critique and suggestions to further public interest. Based on this unique engagement and understanding of the sector, PEG has authored this book, which critically examines many of these reforms and the impacts they have had, to understand if they achieved their expected objectives and if they helped in achieving the desirable socio-environmental outcomes. The in-depth analysis over eight chapters covers thermal, hydropower and renewable generation, electricity distribution, and associated fuel sectors of coal and natural gas.

Date: March 10, 2017
Time: 03:00 P.M.

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

Location:

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Note:
Kindly confirm your participation at pegadmin@prayaspune.org.