31 December 2019: Workshop on "Unthinking Urbanisation: How Urban and Messy is India’s Urbanisation?"

Partha Mukhopadhyay
Centre for Policy Research

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research (CPR) and Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH)

Abstract:
Recently, India’s urbanisation has been characterised as “messy”. At various times, it has been described as unplanned and chaotic. In this context, this talk will primarily engage with two questions. First, it asks if Indian cities are urban — are they urban in all dimensions, economic, social, political, and spatial? Second — and without prejudice to the answer to the first question and stipulating that an urbanisation process is underway — it asks what does it mean to say that Indian urbanisation is messy, that it is a thoughtless, unplanned sprawl? Is there another way of looking at the urbanisation process? Drawing upon multiple qualitative, quantitative, and spatial data sources, this talk will argue first, that in many respects, Indian cities may not yet be urban. Further, the apparent messiness is the result of shortcomings in the public response to relatively normal and predictable individual actions. Consequently, we need to discuss how the public response can be improved rather than adopt punitive measures that penalise rational individual behaviour.

Date: December 31, 2019
Time: 03:45 P.M.

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

Location:

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7 January 2019: Lecture on "Policy Capacity Matters for Capacity Development: Compairing Basic Education System in India and China"

Yifei Yan
London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies

Abstract:
It is widely accepted that capacity development is central to development administration, but many of these initiatives have failed to demonstrate effectiveness in improving government effectiveness. This article argues that capacity development should be built upon possessing the policy capacity to perform the analytical, operational and political functions necessary to make it effective. Drawing on the case of capacity development in the basic education sector through a teacher survey, not only does the study reveal an extensive system of capacity development practices in India (Delhi) and China (Beijing), it also shows that variations on different dimensions of policy capacity have led to significant differences in the effectiveness of such arrangements as perceived by teachers. Therefore, without understanding and catering to the needs of the targets whose capacity is supposedly being built, capacity development initiatives meant to be supportive are likely to be dissatisfying and disappointing instead.

Date: January 7, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room
Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)
8/17, Sri Ram Road, Civil Lines,
Delhi-110054 (India)

Location:

9 January 2020: A Conversation with Nobel Laureate, Richard H. Thaler, and Luis Miranda

Organised by
The University of Chicago Booth School of Business

Date: January 9, 2020
Time: 05:30 P.M.

Venue:
The Nehru Memorial Museum & Library (NMML)
Teen Murti Marg,
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)

Note:
Register at: http://www.cvent.com/events/in-conversation-with-nobel-laureate-richard-thaler/event-summary-0f7643d3eb7744b7abb8b1d5ff8128f0.aspx

Location:

18 December 2019: Seminar on "Houses for Living, Not for Speculating: Affordable Housing in Shenzhen, 1998-2019"

Reeja Nair
Institute of Chinese Studies

Chair:
Sreemati Chakarbarti, Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies

Abstract:
In August 2018, Shenzhen government announced the decision to provide 1 million units of subsidized housing by 2035. This move has been seen by many as an effort to retain skilled workers for whom high housing prices in the city had become a major cause of concern. According to a recent survey, Shenzhen had become one of the five most expensive cities in the world to buy a home. Property prices in the city had increased by 27 percent over the past decade. President Xi Jinping’s cautionary note that “houses are for living, not for speculating” at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in October 2017, underscored government concern about property speculation and the issue of unaffordable housing. The decision to provide government subsidized housing could then be read partly as a response to this concern. Moreover, Shenzhen also forms a crucial part of the larger Greater Bay Area Plan that seeks to boost regional development in the area by 2035. Its role as the hub of innovation and public services within the Plan then implies ensuring better conditions, including better housing opportunities for skilled workers who form the backbone of its rise as the hi-tech capital of China.

This talk attempts to understand the rationale behind the recent policy initiative and locate the need for housing reform within the failures/ limitations of the first housing reform in Shenzhen in 1998. It will, thus, trace the trajectory of housing reform and examine the role played by the state and market forces in shaping the development of affordable housing in the city. Further, it will also explore the challenges posed in the implementation of the new policy as Shenzhen adopts the Singapore model of public housing.

Date: December 18, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room
Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)
8/17, Sri Ram Road, Civil Lines,
Delhi-110054 (India)

Location:

11 December 2019: Seminar on "China In Zambia: Notes From The Field"

Veda Vaidyanathan
Institute of Chinese Studies

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies

Abstract:
As a part of the 'China in the World' research programme at the ICS, Veda Vaidyanathan undertook a 2 week long fieldwork in Zambia to understand China's increasing engagement with the country. She along with her Chinese colleague visited Chinese owned and run farms in Chongwe and Chisamba in addition to the Agriculture Technology Demonstration Centre (ATDC) jointly run by Jilin Agricultural University and the University of Zambia in Lusaka.

She also travelled north to the Copperbelt province and interviewed Chinese investors and entrepreneurs working in the mining sector in Chongola, Kitwe and Ndola. During this time she also met several Zambian stakeholders to try and understand their perception of increasing Chinese overtures in the country.

In this talk, Veda will recollect her experiences from the field, discuss the multiple stakeholder perspectives that coexist and share the main takeaways from her interviews. She will also throw open the research questions that have emerged, collaborations that have been identified and discuss the format the resultant publication will take.

Date: December 11, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room
Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)
8/17, Sri Ram Road, Civil Lines,
Delhi-110054 (India)

Location:

12 December 2019: Air Emergency: What is the Way Ahead?

Sunita Narain
Centre for Science and Environment

Moderator:
Isher Judge Ahluwalia, ICRIER

Organised by:
Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in collaboration with India Habitat Centre

Date: December 12, 2019
Time: 07:00 P.M.

Venue:
Gulmohar Hall,
India Habitat Centre,
Lodi Road,
New Delhi 110003
(Entry from Gate No. 3)

Location:

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13 December 2019: Talk on Establishing Regulatory Capacity for the Real Estate Sector: The MahaRERA Experience

Gautam Chatterjee
Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority

Moderator:
Deepak Sanan, Centre for Policy Research

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research

Abstract:
The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 was enacted by Parliament with the objective of bringing about transparency and financial discipline in the real estate business, and to protect the interests of home buyers. The law mandates states to set up real estate regulatory authorities; developers/builders are required to register projects with this regulatory authority before commencing bookings and sales. Builders are also required to deposit 70% of amounts collected from buyers into an escrow account, to ensure that these funds are used only for the specific project. The objectives of the Act include speedy dispute resolution, curbing the flow of black money, and ensuring timely completion of projects. Progress on the implementation of this law by states is encouraging. So far 29 states have set up regulatory authorities, and 24 have established appellate tribunals. Regulatory authorities of 24 states have set up their websites – which is critical for the implementation of the Act as it mandates online registration. A total of 46,695 real estate projects and 36,823 real estate agents have been registered under the Act across the country.

Maharashtra was the first state to set up its Real Estate Regulatory Authority (MahaRERA). The state has one of the largest real estate markets in India. It reports more than half of all projects registered in the country and most real estate agents. Gautam Chatterjee is the first and current Chairperson of the Maharashtra Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The talk will focus on his experience of establishing regulatory capacity and creating the conditions for transparency and market discipline in a difficult market.

Date: December 13, 2019
Time: 04:00 P.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org. The seating at the venue can accommodate up to 60 people on a first come first serve basis.

Location:

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20 December 2019: Climate Change and Development in India

Navroz K Dubash
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Chair
Jairam Ramesh, Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha

Discussant:
Arunabha Ghosh, Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW)

Organised by:
Carnegie India

Abstract:
Globally, the conversation around climate change has grown more urgent. While countries have reached a consensus on the dangers posed rising greenhouse gas levels, they disagree on the actions that need to be taken to reduce the extent global warming. On December 12, 2015, 195 nations entered into the Paris Agreement that set a goal to limit their individual carbon footprints and to restrict the temperature increase to 1.5-degree celsius. As India works toward meeting its commitments under this agreement, it faces development challenges that necessitate integrating climate concerns into development policies.

Date: December 20, 2019
Time: 4:00 P.M.

Venue:
Conference Room,
Carnegie India,5th Floor,
C5, Edenpark,
Shaheed Jeet Singh Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (India)

Note:
Please confirm your participation to Upasana Sharma at upasana.sharma@ceip.org.

Location:

13 December 2019: Discussion on 'Blackout: The Political Dynamics of Power Outages'

Discussants:
Brian Min
Department of Political Science, University of Michigan
Neelanjan Sircar and Ashwini K. Swain
Centre for Policy Research

Moderator:
Gilles Verniers, Trivedi Centre for Political Data, Ashoka University

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research & Trivedi Centre for Political Data, Ashoka University

Abstract:
Access to electricity in India has increased dramatically in recent decades. On the other hand, the quality of electricity remains uneven in some areas, characterized by blackouts, load shedding, and reliability problems. Brian Min introduce new data on power outages derived from satellite imagery captured nightly over each village since the 1990s. The data suggest that the rapid implementation of village electrification projects has often coincided with a decline in the quality of electricity service. The worst outages are in areas which most aggressively pursued new electrification efforts. The patterns are consistent with an electoral strategy that prioritizes more visible, short-term accomplishments over less visible longer-term investments jn service quality. The results support an electoral explanation for the quality deficit that characterizes the delivery of many public services in democracies across the world.

Date: December 13, 2019
Time: 02:00 P.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org. The seating at the venue can accommodate up to 60 people on a first come first serve basis.

Location:

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13 December 2019: Panel Discussion on "Housing, Externalities, Technology and the Long Run for Global Real Estate"

Richard K. Green
Brookings India

Chair:
Shamika Ravi, Brookings India

Organised by
Brookings India

Abstract:
This presentation discusses the macroeconomic impact of housing construction and house prices, the interrelationship between housing and agglomeration economies, the balance between positive and negative externalities arising from rapid urban growth, and how technology is changing industrial, office and retail space.

Date: December 13, 2019
Time: 11:00 A.M.

Venue:
Diwan-i-Khas,
The Taj Mahal Hotel,
1 Mansingh Road,
New Delhi-110001

Note:
Please confirm your participation to Ms. Shaonlee Patranabis at spatranabis@brookings.edu.

Location:

9 December 2019: Global Economic Outlook

Luis Breuer
International Monetary Fund

Organised by
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

Abstract:
After slowing sharply in the last three quarters of 2018, the pace of global economic activity remains weak. Rising trade and geopolitical tensions have increased uncertainty about the future of the global trading system and international cooperation more generally, taking a toll on business confidence, investment decisions, and global trade. The talk shall provide an overview of the latest release of World Economic Outlook in October 2019 by the IMF which analysis the world economy and issues affecting industrial countries, developing countries, and economies in transition to market; and address topics of pressing current interest and implications for India.

Date: December 9, 2019
Time: 02:00 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:

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13 December 2019: Corporate Social Responsibility: Perspectives and Field Experiences

Priyanka Chhaparia
Centre for Responsible Business

Organised by
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

Abstract:
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has evolved as an interdisciplinary concept, cross-cutting into fields of management, economics, law, sociology, and also social work. In India, with the introduction of Section 135 of the Companies Act 2013, expenditure on socially responsible activities has been made mandatory. This evolution and journey of CSR from a philanthropic activity to a mandatory multi-stakeholder concept is one full of debates and conflict. The talk aims to give an overview of the CSR landscape in India and present field experiences of some of the CSR activities that are undertaken by foundations managed by corporate entities.

Date: December 13, 2019
Time: 02:00 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:

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11 December 2019: Round-table on “Mobility and Tenure Choice”

Richard K. Green
Brookings India

Organised by
Brookings India

Abstract:
India’s rental market is evolving. Throughout the world, renting has been chosen by the young, the single and, more generally, the mobile over renting, even taking into account issues of affordability. To the best of our knowledge, there has been one previous empirical paper on the determinants of renting in India-a paper that was focused on Bangalore (Manaj, Verma and Nayyatha 2015). In this paper, we use district level data to draw inferences about the determinants of mobility and tenure choice throughout India, and whether these determinants are stable across time. We do find that those who have demonstrated mobility are more likely to be renters, but, unlike other countries, do not find that marital status generally influences tenure behavior (although widows are more likely to be owners, even after controlling for age).We also find that the determinants of renting are in flux, as a model fitted to 2001 data does not forecast 2011 outcomes well.

Date: December 11, 2019
Time: 12:00 Noon

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

Note:
Please confirm your participation to Ms. Shaonlee Patranabis at spatranabis@brookings.edu.

Location:

13 December 2019: Do Electronic Health Records systems inflate insurance costs?: A study of Medicare Reimbursements

Kartik Ganju
McGill University, Canada

Organised by
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

Abstract:
Electronic health record (EHR) systems allow physicians to automate the process of entering patient data relative to manual entry in traditional paper-based records. However, such automated data entry may be exploited by hospitals to inflate reimbursement requests from Medicare by overstating the true complexity of patients’ diagnoses (termed “upcoding”). The primary EHR module that has been alleged to facilitate upcoding is the computerized physician order entry (CPOE) system, which populates patient charts with default templates and allows physicians to copy and paste data from other patients’ records. To combat upcoding, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services implemented the Recovery Audit Program, first as a pilot program in six states between 2005 and 2009, and then nationwide in the entire United States in 2010. We examine whether the adoption of CPOE systems by hospitals is associated with a proliferation in reported patient complexity to Medicare, and if the Recovery Audit Program helped to attenuate this relationship. We find that the adoption of CPOE systems significantly increased patient complexity reported by hospitals, corresponding to an estimate of $2 Billion inflation in Medicare reimbursements per year, until they were regulated by the Recovery Audit Program that helped to mitigate upcoding. Notably, those auditors who developed the ability to identify the use of default templates, copied-and-pasted data, and cloned records were the most effective in reducing upcoding. This implies that these IT auditors likely use the same data created by the CPOE systems to identify and combat upcoding. These findings have implications how to combat inflated Medicare reimbursements paid by taxpayer dollars with the Recovery Audit Program and how IT audit can prevent the misuse of information systems to create artificial business value from IT. Contributions to Information Systems and Healthcare research, practice, and public policy are discussed.

Date: December 13, 2019
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
Auditorium, Ground Floor
Main 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 latha.balasubramanian@nipfp.org.in

Location:

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3 December 2019: Learning about learning from learning about learning

Lant Pritchett
Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford

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

Chair:
Emmanuel Jimenez, 3ie

Discussant:
Ronald Abraham, IDinsight

Date: December 3, 2019
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
Lecture Hall 1, Annexe,
India International Centre,
New Delhi – 110001 (India)

Location:

29 November 2019: Discussion on 'India's Economy in a hole: Keep Digging?'

Lant Pritchett
Centre for Policy Research

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

Organised by
The Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
Weak capability for implementation and beautiful rules create complex deals. Complex deals can create a rapidly growing economy, but at the same time prevent the move to rules. Hence, the paradox can be move to rules that can be good in the long run but bad in the short term,or move to deals that are good in the short term but not in the long run. This talk will unpack these relationships and dynamics in the context of the Indian economy and state capacity.

Date: November 29, 2019
Time: 11:00 A.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org. The seating at the venue can accommodate up to 60 people on a first come first serve basis.

Location:

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5 December 2019: The Impact of Monetary Policy in a Dual Economy

Varsha S. Kulkarni
Harvard University

Organised by
The Centre for Development Economics and Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics

Abstract:
There is a line of research in macroeconomics that believes that if the expectations are rational then the activist monetary policies would do little to raise the output and instead may increase or even destabilize the inflation. In accordance with the New Keynesian Philips Curve (NKPC), when the traders are able to anticipate changes in policies, they’re able to make accurate estimations of inflation and hence the output would remain mostly unchanged (at full employment). This absence of an appreciable long-run tradeoff between inflation and output also strengthens the case for inflation targeting. However, in practice both the long-run neutrality of money and unchanging output have been increasingly questioned. The impact of policies is known to be substantial for increasing output. Further, one of the main drawbacks of NKPC is identified as not being able to explain the widely prevalent inflation persistence. In keeping with all this, a hybrid expectations model is often suggested as an improvement, one which would incorporate both backward-looking and forward-looking inflation components. While researchers are constantly trying to study different sources of market imperfections to explain the findings, there is a lot of variation across countries in terms of the behavior of traders and the formation of expectations. It is of interest to see how the policies like inflation targeting would unfold in the midst of uncertainties and aggregate demand shocks experienced commonly by the developing economies. We explore one such scenario for an economy like India which functions dually between the well-regulated and informed formal sector on the one hand and the relatively unregulated and uninformed informal sector on the other. We identify the informal sector as an important source of imperfection and expectation heterogeneity. We study the heterogeneous expectations in terms of their reactions to inflation target both theoretically and empirically. In this paper, the heterogeneity in expectations together with the response to an inflation target gives rise to a non-constant velocity and, therefore, aggregate demand, even when money supply is fixed. We find that the presence of informal sector makes it difficult to control the fluctuations in output and therefore poses a challenge to effective policy making. We study empirically the impact of demonetization shock. Finally, the paper incorporates this heterogeneity as two different kinds of firms reacting differently to new information or policies. It derives a variant of the sticky information Phillips curve developed earlier. In this talk, I will present the computational, empirical as well as theoretical results and discuss the implications.

Date: December 5, 2019
Time: 03:05 P.M.

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

Location:

4 December 2019: Lecture on "Global Spillovers, Multilateral Cooperation and WTO Reform"

Bernard Hoekman
European University Institute in Florence, Italy

Organised by:
Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER) in collaboration with India Habitat Centre

Date: December 4, 2019
Time: 07:00 P.M.

Venue:
Gulmohar Hall,
India Habitat Centre,
Lodi Road,
New Delhi 110003
(Entry from Gate No. 3)

Location:

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Cancelled due to declaration of holiday on account of severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR - 15 November 2019: Dealing with Natural Disasters - Shrinking role of the community and the market, and the expansion of the state

Barun Mitra
Founder Director Liberty Institute

Organised by
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

Abstract:
Throughout much of history mankind has relied on its own ingenuity and imagination in the face of many natural disasters. Many cultures across the world recognise in their epics the enormous disruption a natural disaster caused, in the form of a great flood or lost continents. These shared experiences not only disrupted the communities, but also often reshaped the relationships within it.

With the rapid progress of science and technology in the last few centuries, many secrets of nature have been unraveled. With economic development man’s capacity to reduce his vulnerability to the natural hazards have greatly increased.

However, with rise of the nation state, particularly in the last two centuries, the onus of dealing with disasters, natural or man-made, have been increasingly claimed by the state. This is also a phase when citizens and the community have slowly surrendered their own responsibilities and capacities.

Disasters, man-made ones such as wars or social and economic turmoil, or natural ones, like a flood or an earthquake, have increasingly opened the space for unbridled expansion of the State, at the cost of freedom of the citizens and integrity and autonomy of the community.

The threat posed by natural disasters is now being superseded by the threat that is emerging to human civilisation itself from the agency of the state that is threatening to play God, in the name of protecting her people from the wrath of nature. This is threatening to turn the clock back towards the dark days of the divine rights of the rulers who wielded absolute power over the people by claiming absolute knowledge and complete command over resources. In contrast, citizens in a community and in their interactions in the marketplace acknowledge the limited knowledge and the scarcity of resources.

Two contemporary episodes, the never ending war on terror, and the endless horse trading over climate change, illustrate how the misguided state policies have fuelled the sense of crisis. Then the same sense of fear have enabled the state to continuously claim more authority and power to deal with the challenges that it has singularly contributed to create. A perverse incentive has developed to fuel and perpetuate the sense of crisis and fear, and leverage that to ensure the expansion of the state power.

Date: November 15, 2019
Time: 04:00 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)

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

Location:

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19 November 2019: Session on "Being a Young Woman in India: Narratives and Perspectives"

Speakers:
Shaheena Attarwala, RuthlessUx and Social Activist, Bangalore
Shriti Pandey, Strawcture Eco, Gorakhpur
Ashweetha Shetty, Bodhi Tree Foundation, Tirunelveli
Vasanthi Veluri, Peoli, Almora

Moderator:
Amitav Virmani, The Education Alliance

Organised by:
Ananta Centre

Date: November 19, 2019
Time: 03:30 P.M. (Registration: 03:00 PM)

Venue:
Seminar Room I & II,
Kamladevi Complex,
India International Centre,
40, Max Mueller Marg, Lodhi Estate,
New Delhi-110003(INDIA)

Note:
Please confirm at:
shreya.talwar@anantacentre.in/charu.jishnu@anantacentre.in
Prior registration is mandatory.

Location:

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23 November 2019: Lecture on 'Encryption Security and Privacy in the Digital Age'

Manoj Prabhakaran
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay

Organised by:
Internet Freedom Foundation

Abstract:
Are you tired of simplistic lock and key analogies which pervade most legal and policy discourse surrounding encryption?

The last year has seen encryption technologies become a subject of intense discussion in courts and within the government. In India and several other countries, there are demands to weaken encryption through backdoors and key escrow systems to facilitate easier access to information for law enforcement agencies. At the same time, encryption is also one of the few tools available to individuals to protect themselves from surveillance by Big Brother and Big Tech.

Date: November 23, 2019
Time: 06:30 P.M.

Venue:
Constitution Club of India
Vithal Bhai Patel House,
Rafi Marg, Behind Reserve Bank of India,
New Delhi-110001 (India)

Note:
Please register at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/encryption-pe-charcha-a-public-lecture-by-dr-manoj-prabhakaran-tickets-81279764965

Location:

15 November 2019: Talk on 'Government at the Grassroots: A case study of field administration'

Rashmi Sharma
Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)

Organised by
The Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
The working of government at the grassroots was explored through a case study of field administration in one district in Madhya Pradesh, based on an analysis of 56 government organizations across 8 departments, interviews with Panchayat Representatives, government officials, NGO representatives and journalists, and focus group discussions with citizens.

The case study found that though the role of field administration was very wide, the capacity to deliver was constrained for several reasons. The structure was fragmented, with separate offices of 37 departments at various levels, as well as rural and urban local governments. Given the large number of government offices, there was inadequate manpower in individual institutions, especially at the grassroots. Moreover, there were several gaps in expertise, and a large number of posts were vacant. At the grassroots, several types of workers were hired on contract at low salaries, with no prospects of promotion. They were dissatisfied and agitated constantly for better working conditions. The posting of regular employees was patronage-based, and promotions very slow, which created a perverse incentive. The infrastructure in many field institutions was inadequate in terms of seating space, toilets, drinking water and sanitation.

Departmental offices from the state headquarter exercised tight control over the field offices in terms of activities, manpower and finances. This made it difficult for government workers to respond to people’s needs. The role of local governments, through extensive as per law, was very limited in practice. The District Collector had varying authority over departmental offices. Consequently, the capacity for coordinated action was limited. There was little analysis of problems, because officials saw their role as following orders. Technology had been used to centralize even more as state level officials monitored more intensely through daily reports and video conferences. There was wide-spread rent-seeking, and the impact of measures to enhance the accountability to the community was weak. This resulted in poor quality institutions, fractious relations between government workers and citizens, and poor capacity to solve local problems.

There is need to seriously re-think field administration. The measures suggested include empowering local governments, creating fewer but stronger organizations, hiring better skilled personnel at the grassroots, providing greater opportunities for promotion, developing more consultative and analytical processes of working and eliminating rent-seeking.

Date: November 15, 2019
Time: 10:00 A.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org

Location:

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21 November 2019: Book Launch and Discussion: 'India in a Warming World: Integrating Climate Change and Development'

Speakers:
Chandra Bhushan, International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology (iFOREST)
Naina Lal Kidwai, Advent Private Equity India Advisory board and former President, FICCI
Nitin Sethi, Independent journalist and writer

Moderator:
Navroz K. Dubash, Centre for Policy Research and Editor, India in A Warming World

Organised by
The Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
As science is increasingly making clear, the problem of climate change poses an existential challenge for humanity. For India, this challenge is compounded by immediate concerns of eradicating poverty and accelerating development, and complicated by its relatively limited role thus far in causing the problem. India in a Warming World explores this complex context for India’s engagement with climate change. But, in addition, it argues that India, like other countries, can no longer ignore the problem, because a pathway to development innocent of climate change is no longer available. Bringing together leading researchers, activists, and policymakers, this volume lays out the emergent debate on climate change in India. Collectively, the chapters deepen clarity on why India should engage with climate change and how it can best do so.

Date: November 21, 2019
Time: 06:00 P.M.

Venue:
Kamladevi Complex,
India International Centre
Max Mueller Marg,
New Delhi - 110003(INDIA)

Note:
Please RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfPct5xHSCPMgWyCG9X9nL4SQRsg6K4tMZWcb7Dwrl55YerBw/viewform

13 November 2019: The Turn-of-the-Year Effect before Income Taxes or Modern Institutional Investors

Vikas Mehrotra
Alberta School of Business, University of Alberta

Organised by
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi Center

Abstract:
Favoured explanations for the large and persistent turn-of-the-year effect in stock returns are tax-loss selling and institutional investor window-dressing. A new dataset of pre-CRSP NYSE daily stock-level total returns reveals a statistically significant 2.2 percent turn-of-the-year market return between 1874 and 1917, a period preceding income taxes and modern institutional investors in the U.S. The turn-of- he-year return is higher for small, growth and extreme winner and loser stocks. Our evidence implies that taxes cannot be the sole explanation for the turn-of-the-year effect. Either some form of window-dressing predates modern institutional investors, or other explanations for the anomaly must be sought.

Date: November 13, 2019
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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15 November 2019: Dealing with Natural Disasters - Shrinking role of the community and the market, and the expansion of the state

Barun Mitra
Founder Director Liberty Institute

Organised by
National Institute of Public Finance and Policy, New Delhi

Abstract:
Throughout much of history mankind has relied on its own ingenuity and imagination in the face of many natural disasters. Many cultures across the world recognise in their epics the enormous disruption a natural disaster caused, in the form of a great flood or lost continents. These shared experiences not only disrupted the communities, but also often reshaped the relationships within it.

With the rapid progress of science and technology in the last few centuries, many secrets of nature have been unraveled. With economic development man’s capacity to reduce his vulnerability to the natural hazards have greatly increased.

However, with rise of the nation state, particularly in the last two centuries, the onus of dealing with disasters, natural or man-made, have been increasingly claimed by the state. This is also a phase when citizens and the community have slowly surrendered their own responsibilities and capacities.

Disasters, man-made ones such as wars or social and economic turmoil, or natural ones, like a flood or an earthquake, have increasingly opened the space for unbridled expansion of the State, at the cost of freedom of the citizens and integrity and autonomy of the community.

The threat posed by natural disasters is now being superseded by the threat that is emerging to human civilisation itself from the agency of the state that is threatening to play God, in the name of protecting her people from the wrath of nature. This is threatening to turn the clock back towards the dark days of the divine rights of the rulers who wielded absolute power over the people by claiming absolute knowledge and complete command over resources. In contrast, citizens in a community and in their interactions in the marketplace acknowledge the limited knowledge and the scarcity of resources.

Two contemporary episodes, the never ending war on terror, and the endless horse trading over climate change, illustrate how the misguided state policies have fuelled the sense of crisis. Then the same sense of fear have enabled the state to continuously claim more authority and power to deal with the challenges that it has singularly contributed to create. A perverse incentive has developed to fuel and perpetuate the sense of crisis and fear, and leverage that to ensure the expansion of the state power.

Date: November 15, 2019
Time: 04:00 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)

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

Location:

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8 November 2019: TRIPS, Patents, and Drug Prices in India

Bhaven Sampat
Columbia University and NBER

Organised by
The Centre for Development Economics and Department of Economics, Delhi School of Economics

Abstract:
This paper examines the effects of product patents on drug prices and competition in India. Several previous analyses have found only negligible effects of patents on prices and competition in the post-TRIPS era, citing inadequate implementation and unique aspects of Indian Patent Law such as Section 3(d) as potential explanations for these surprising findings. We argue that the limited impact thus far instead reflects another aspect of TRIPS implementation: the decision to not allow patents with pre-1995 priority dates. We demonstrate that the main patents on most drugs approved until very recently (and the majority of drugs covered by previous analyses) are pre-1995 priority. When we focus on drugs fully covered by the TRIPS regime - those whose primary (compound) patent has a post-1995 priority date — we find much larger effects of patents on prices and competition. We argue that these price/competition effects are what we should expect in the long-run steady state, once the long shadow of implementation fades. We discuss implications for prices, access, and innovation in India and globally, and for empirical research on the globalization of patent protection.

Date: November 8, 2019
Time: 03:05 P.M.

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

Location:

31 October 2019: Panel discussion on ‘Impact of climate change and extreme weather events in India’

Moderator:
Sreenivasan Jain, NDTV

Organised by
Tata Centre for Development at UChicago

Abstract:
Key objectives of the panel discussion are:
- Highlighting the economic and health costs of climate change in India.
- Exploring coping strategies to limit the impacts of extreme weather events.
- Evaluating India’s efforts in building climate-resilient cities.

Date: October 31, 2019
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
UChicago Center,
DLF Capitol Point,
Baba Kharak Singh Marg,
New Delhi (India)

Location:

7 November 2019: Panel discussion on 'Debugging India for Maximum Governance: Ensuring Accountability, Efficiency and Transparency'

Panellists:
Shakti Sinha, Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (NMML).
Shailaja Chandra, former Secretary, Government of India and former Chief Secretary, Delhi.
K.P. Krishnan, Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship.

Organised by
Centre for Civil Society (CCS)

Abstract:
In the larger purview of maximum governance, the discussion will explore the scope and limits of state capacity, and how lack of it is to be made up for, through back-checks; the possible irony behind it, and ways of introduction of good practice to increase accountability in general - in deploying service delivery.

Date: November 7, 2019
Time: 06:30 P.M.

Venue:
The Claridges,
12, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam Road,
New Delhi-110011(INDIA)

Note:
Kindly RSVP to Samta Arora at samta@ccs.in

Location:

25 October 2019: How to Mitigate Climate Change

Ian Parry
Fiscal Affairs Department, International Monetary Fund

Abstract:
The IMF’s Fiscal Monitor provides a toolkit for climate mitigation policies. It discusses the pros and cons of alterative mitigation instruments including carbon taxes, trading systems, regulations, and tax-subsidy schemes. A quantitative analysis is provided for G20 countries illustrating the impacts of carbon pricing, what prices are consistent with countries’ Paris mitigation pledges, and the trade-offs with other policy instruments. The design and impacts of a carbon price floor arrangement among large emitters that could complement the Paris Agreement are considered. The report also discusses strategies for enhancing the acceptability of mitigation policies and supporting measures needed to ensure adequate investment in low-emission technologies.

Date: October 25, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

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

Location:

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31 October 2019: Special Talk on "Military Spending"

Sanjeev Gupta
Center for Global Development

Organised by:
EGROW Foundation and FICCI

Date: October 31, 2019
Time: 05:00 P.M.

Venue:
FICCI,
Federation House, 1, Tansen Marg,
New Delhi-110001(INDIA)

Note:
RSVP: chiraag.samaddar@ficci.com

Location:

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25 October 2019: Strategy of Conquest

Marcin Dziubinski
University of Warsaw

Organised by
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi Center

Abstract:
We develop a theoretical framework for the study of war and conquest. The analysis highlights the role of three factors – the technology of war, resources, and contiguity network – in shaping the dynamics of appropriation and the formation of empires. The world of many kingdoms is characterized by incessant fighting. After an initial phase of uncertain and gradual growth, the expansion of the winning kingdom speeds up, and it grows rapidly through contiguous expansion. The size of the empire is limited by the connectivity of the network. These dynamics are consistent with the rise of the First Chinese Empire.

Date: October 25, 2019
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
Seminar 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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23 October 2019: Evidence/Proof: Science and Social Response to Air Pollution

Jessica Seddon
World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington D.C.

Abstract:
This talk will discuss the way that the chemistry of air pollution shapes the policy and political challenges of improving air quality. It will lay out a general framework for the intersection of science and social dynamics and offer some specific proposals for air quality governance in India.

Date: October 23, 2019
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 latha.balasubramanian@nipfp.org.in

Location:

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22 October 2019: Conversation with author of "City of Flows"

Olivier Mongin
Essayist and Publisher in conversation with
Marie-Hélène Zérah
French Institute of Research on Development (IRD), Paris and Center for Policy Research

Organised by
The Centre for Policy Research (CPR), Centre de Sciences Humaines (CSH) and Institut Français India (IFI)

Abstract:
Olivier Mongin’s book City of Flows ("La Ville des flux", published in 2013), reflects on the trajectory of cities in an era of globalisation. For Olivier Mongin, there is an ongoing “de-territorialisation” process in the cities, which avoids regulation, because of their integration into a vast global movement materialised by flows. He argues in favour of the urgent need to rethink urban values, which have taken various forms and semantics through history, and which are vital to envision a more integrative future for cities.

Date: October 22, 2019
Time: 04:00 P.M.

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

Location:

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17 October 2019: Panel discussion on, "Bridging Access & Innovation in Healthcare Policy"

Organised by:
Observer Research Foundation (ORF)

Abstract:
Expanding affordable access to innovative drugs will play a central role in addressing current and future global health challenges. This is particularly critical for low- and middle-income economies as they look to reduce disease burdens through innovative medicines and strengthen healthcare delivery. Is there a policy framework that would both incentivize life sciences companies to continue risk-taking investments into the research of transformative cures--and make these cures available to patients who can least afford but most need access to them? This discussion will seek to brainstorm & rebuild on best practice policies--including the convergence of intellectual property rights, voluntary licensing and strengthening healthcare infrastructure.

Date: October 17, 2019
Time: 10:30 A.M.

Venue:
Nilgiri room,
The Oberoi,
Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg,
New Delhi 110003 (India)

Note:
RSVP: architlohani29@gmail.com

Location:

16 October 2019: Seminar on "Is there a recent revival of Chinese nationalism?"

Gunjan Singh
Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA)

Chair:
Debasish Chaudhury, Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies

Abstract:
In the last few decades the Communist Party of China (CPC) has had to depend on nationalism to gain mass support for foreign as well as domestic policies. In a post ideological environment nationalism is being cultivated for gaining domestic support. Xi Jinping, after becoming the President and the abolition of the two terms presidential term in 2018 there is a major push by the party to demolish domestic criticism with the help of nationalism, but as experience shows, nationalism has always been a double edged sword. This talk will cover recent developments and see how party is handling it now.

Date: October 16, 2019
Time: 03:00 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar Room
Institute of Chinese Studies (ICS)
8/17, Sri Ram Road, Civil Lines,
Delhi-110054 (India)

Location:

17 October 2019: Economic openness across India: the opportunities, challenges and risks

Stephen Brien
Legatum Institute

Discussants:
Harsha Vardhana Singh, Council on Emerging Market Enterprises at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy

Organised by
Brookings India

Abstract:
Prosperity entails much more than financial and material wealth. It reaches into the political, the judicial, the well-being and the character of a nation. For societies to flourish and people to prosper, we need economic prosperity and social well-being working hand-in-hand. But that requires open, competitive economies, where individuals, communities and businesses are truly empowered to realise their full potential. The Legatum Institute has created a Global Index of Economic Openness (GIEO) to rank 157 countries’ openness to commerce, assessing the environment that enables or hinders their ability to trade both domestically and internationally. It can serve as a unique and valuable tool for governments across the world to assess the economic impact of their policy choices, understand the vast potential for wealth creation from their improvement, and create pathways from poverty to prosperity for some of the world’s most disadvantaged people.

Date: October 17, 2019
Time: 04:00 P.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP ngupta@brookingsindia.org and contact and zkazmi@brookingsindia.org for media inquiries.

Location:

17 October 2019: Book launch and discussion on 'Demanding Development: The Politics of Public Goods Provision in India's Urban Slums'

Adam Michael Auerbach
School of International Service, American University, Washington, DC

Discussants:
Véronique Dupont, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)
Rohit Chandra, Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Moderator:
Marie-Hélène Zérah, Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
India’s urban slums exhibit dramatic variation in their access to local public goods and services – paved roads, piped water, trash removal, sewers, and streetlights. Drawing on more than two years of fieldwork in the north Indian cities of Bhopal and Jaipur, Demanding Development accounts for the uneven success of India’s slum residents in securing local public goods and services. The book centres on the political organisation of slum settlements and the informal slum leaders who spearhead resident efforts to make claims on the state – in particular, those slum leaders who are party workers. It finds striking variation in the extent to which networks of party workers have spread across slum settlements. It demonstrates how this variation in the density and partisan distribution of party workers across settlements has powerful consequences on the ability of residents to politically mobilise to improve local conditions.

Date: October 17, 2019
Time: 04:30 P.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org

Location:

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10 October 2019: Talk on 'What Happens to Local Electricity Supply Systems When Grid Supply Improves? Insights From Three Localities in Bihar'

Bérénice Girard

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
Two simultaneous dynamics are currently taking place in the energy sector in Bihar. One is the development of the electricity grid and the improvement of supply. The other is a push by the Central and State governments for renewable energies, especially for solar. The 2017 'Policy for Promotion of New and Renewable Energy Sources' thus plans to install more than 3400 MW of renewable energy by 2022.

This presentation will introduce an ongoing research that analyses how these two dynamics have modified the “market for electricity”, in other words, the local economy that provides households and shops with electricity supply, back-up or technologies that will help reduce their bills. These products and services are either autonomous or complementary to the grid, and include small individual solutions (solar lanterns, batteries, etc), large individual solutions for condominiums or public buildings (solar rooftops, generators, etc), and collective solutions (generator services, rental of batteries, etc). The research sits at the intersection of energy and urban studies and is carried out in three different urban or semi-urban localities in the district of Bhagalpur. The presentation will examine how these three localities, despite being geographically very close to one another, are currently following three different energy trajectories.

The research thus contributes to two areas of study. First, it gives insights into the assemblages of actors, technical objects and institutions, which preside over the nature, structure and evolution of local electricity supply systems, i.e. the energy transition in contemporary India. Second, it furthers the knowledge on local entrepreneurship in different urban settings.

Date: October 10, 2019
Time: 12:00 P.M.

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

Location:

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14 October 2019: Impact of Demographic Dynamics on Migration

François Héran
National Institute for Demographic Research and National Institute of Statistics, France

Organised by
The Centre for Development Economics and Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics

Abstract:
It is a widespread view, including among researchers to believe that the primary motor of international migration is a system of communicating vessels: the least developed countries would migrate mechanically to the most developed, the overpopulated countries to the least dense, the most fertile to the less fertile, and so on. The notion of "climate migrations" seems to add a new example to this series.

Several metaphors are widely used to express this traditional "gravity model" of international migration. Some have a scholarly flavour, such as the "natural" circulation of migrants from areas of "high demographic pressures" to "low pressure" areas. Others are more popular and feed public debate (like the "magnet effect"), mingling with classical rhetorical figures: the "slippery slope" argument, the "perverse effect" arguments, etc.

In order to refute this mechanical vision of migration flows, we shall analyse the "Bilateral Migration Database" (IMF, IOM, OECD) which now offers a global view of migration systems and facilitates the integration of a wide spectrum of factors. The analysis will be supported by examples from Eastern Europe, the Indian Subcontinent, and sub-Saharan Africa. It will also be suggested that quantitative analyses of migration systems should be accompanied by a critical analysis of the rhetorical systems of argumentation.

Date: October 14, 2019
Time: 03:05 P.M.

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

Location:

4 October 2019: Lecture on "Belt and Road Initiative and Free and Open Indo-Pacific: Are they Compatible?"

Akio Takahara
The University of Tokyo, Japan

Organised by:
Institute of Chinese Studies & Embassy of Japan in India

Abstract:
How should we define the Belt and Road Initiative? Takahara argues that the Chinese have a genius for formulating constellational concepts that are attractive but intangible, and BRI is one of those. What we should focus on are the tangible stars, namely, the projects, which can be shared with another constellation called the Free and Open Indo-Pacific Vision. If President Xi Jinping of China expresses his willingness to cooperate with the latter, he and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan can demonstrate to the world that peace and cooperation remain as the “main melody” of international relations in the 21st century, at least in this part of the world.

Date: October 4, 2019
Time: 02:30 P.M.

Venue:
Lecture Room 2, Basement,
India International Centre Annexe,
40, Max Mueller Marg,
New Delhi-110003(INDIA)

Location:

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3 October 2019: Lecture on "Innovation and policy in the Energy Revolution: some insights from Europe"

Michael Grubb
University College London

Organised by:
STIP Forum - Research and Information System for Developing Countries (RIS), The Energy & Resources Institute (TERI), Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), Indo-French Centre for the Promotion of Advanced Research (CEFIPRA), Vigyan Prasar and India Habitat Centre (IHC)

Date: October 3, 2019
Time: 07:00 P.M.

Venue:
Causrina Hall
India Habitat Centre
Lodhi Road
New Delhi-110003 (INDIA)
(Entry from Gate No. 3)

Note:
RSVP: Mr. Tish Malhotra/Mr. N. N. Krishnan, Tel.: 011-24682176, 011-24682184 Email: dgoffice@ris.org.in

Location:

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27 September 2019: Talk on 'State Capacity for Cities: Staffing and Cadre Restructuring in Madhya Pradesh Municipalities'

Neelesh Dubey
Urban Administration and Development Department, Government of Madhya Pradesh

Organised by
Centre for Policy Research (CPR)

Abstract:
In the past eighteen years, starting in 1991 and linked to the Indian economic challenges of the time, there has been a broadly declining trend in government employment. Government departments are discouraged from creating new posts and have been expected to shed some of their operational costs by voluntary retirement, attrition (not hiring against posts vacated when incumbents retire), and by contracting out some of their functions.

However, the roles and functions of government continue to change and evolve, sometimes requiring increases and restructuring of staff. In the case of municipalities in Madhya Pradesh, this was felt to be necessary in light of the expanding profile, roles and responsibilities of municipalities in the state over the past decade.

During this period, the national JNNURM programme set a context in which municipalities could take some responsibility for planning their infrastructure needs in a socio-economic context, and secure funds to implement these projects. The programme also made state governments and municipalities commit to a set of institutional reforms which were largely to be implemented by the municipalities. Around the same time, the state government of Madhya Pradesh entered into a few large donor and multilateral funded infrastructure and governance improvement programmes, which were largely to be implemented at the city level by municipalities. The functional profile of the Madhya Pradesh municipalities also expanded, partly as a result of these programmes, to cover drinking water, urban poverty, housing and transport.

And yet, for much of this time, there was minimal change in municipal staffing. The staffing structure of municipalities is based on a structure that is approved by the state government, and any additional changes have to be approved by it. Upper-level posts are filled by the state, often by officers on deputation from other cadres or from state service employees, whereas the municipality recruits lower-level staff locally. This system has many problems, most importantly that municipalities fall short of skills, expertise and people in many critical areas.

In this context, the government of Madhya Pradesh undertook a comprehensive municipal cadre and staffing reform which has been partly implemented by the state and is the subject of this talk.

Date: September 27, 2019
Time: 12:00-1:30 P.M.

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

Note:
Please RSVP at president.cpr@cprindia.org

Location:

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27 September 2019: Women's labor force participation and household technology adoption

Tarun Jain
IIM Ahmedabad

Organised by
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi Center

Abstract:
We examine how women's employment leads to household technology adoption in the context of mid-century United States. We posit a non-monotonic relationship between women's education and household technology adoption, with middle education households purchasing appliances and high education households hiring domestic workers. Using WWII factories and draft rates as instruments for female labor demand, we find that a standard deviation increase in female labor force participation increases washing machine ownership by 0.413 standard deviations. Substitution of employed domestic labor with appliances is an important channel.

Date: September 27, 2019
Time: 11:30 A.M.

Venue:
Seminar 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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25 September 2019: Migrants and Firms: Evidence from China

Clément Imbert
University of Warwick

Organised by
Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), Delhi Center

Abstract:
How does rural-urban migration shape urban production in developing countries? We use longitudinal data on Chinese manufacturing firms between 2001 and 2006, and exploit exogenous variation in rural-urban migration induced by agricultural price shocks for identification. We find that, when immigration increases, manufacturing production becomes more labor-intensive in the short run. In the longer run, firms innovate less, move away from capital-intensive technologies, and adopt final products that use low-skilled labor more intensively. We develop a model with endogenous technological choice, which rationalizes these findings, and we estimate the effect of migration on factor productivity and factor allocation across firms.

Date: September 25, 2019
Time: 03:30 P.M.

Venue:
Seminar 2
Indian Statistical Institute Delhi Centre,
7, S. J. S. Sansanwal Marg,
New Delhi-110016 (INDIA)

Location:

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19 September 2019: General Equilibrium Impacts in Imperfect Agricultural Markets: Evidence from the Tanzanian Cotton Industry

Anubhab Gupta
University of California, Davis

Abstract:
This paper evaluates the general equilibrium effects of agricultural market structures by examining how market power of downstream intermediaries shape the economy-wide impacts of technological improvements in agriculture. Economic impact evaluations in developing countries usually do not include spillovers, and they do not explicitly consider market power. Using industry and original survey data from the Western Cotton Growing Area of Tanzania, I construct an index of oligopsony power of cotton ginners in their cotton purchase, and non-parametrically estimate the index as 0.28. A parametrized general equilibrium model of a cotton producing local economy using micro-household data shows that a technological improvement in cotton production has significant spillover benefits for households not directly involved in cotton production. Intermediary market power of downstream cotton ginners not only mitigates the direct benefits for poor cotton-producing households but also significantly diminishes the indirect benefits for non-cotton-producing households. The direct income increases of technology improvement for the cotton producers are reduced by 2.2 to 5.6 percentage points, and the indirect income increases for the non-cotton producing households are reduced by 0.5 to 0.8 percentage points. A realistic analysis of policies aimed at raising welfare in rural economies must consider effects of market power. Taking agricultural market structure into account opens up new policy considerations and opportunities, including the benefits of laws limiting or proscribing anticompetitive behavior to prevent formation of mergers and coalitions downstream from farms.

Date: September 19, 2019
Time: 03:05 P.M.

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

Location: