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Nominal Dichotomy?

Decades back, I remember my uncle, in his wheelchair, reminded me, almost scolding, that merely repeating something doesn't turn it true. Perhaps what I related to him was indeed incredulous..... But those were, and these are, nominal times! Some things repeat .... Like politics, like nominal coalition pressures, like inflation, and ......the sliding FX! And they are, Nominally True - de facto! Back in 70s, inflation was in the double digits in the aftermath of the oil crisis, our population half what it is today, and the Dollar exchanged for 8 Rupees, perhaps less. So what went wrong and who got away.... and how? It turns out Democracy is blind to the nature of economic system adopted under it - whether the trade-oriented, per-capita Nominal paradigm, or the infrastructure-focused Real paradigm. The many governments that we elected found the 'desi'-hybrid version of the per-capita oriented, nominal paradigm - based on inflation-managed capitalism, FX-massaged trade (and ex

Majority-Minority Ire: A Lesson in Group Sociology

You know what they say? "You better not...... Else I take a key on you". Apparently, a very common threat in an over-populous society with rampant injustice that induces people to grimace at each other for merely being around, and sue if they rub shoulders. Almost, except that they sue for balancing damages - not a lump sum, but for all future time..... and not in Courts, but socially, leaning on their Status within a social hierarchy. Yeah, the same hierarchy that tells me in so many different ways that I fell short of royalty, albeit as a Minority - something I'd gladly accept but for what was ingrained into me by parents! But this is no biography. I seek to highlight the frictions from diversity within a competitive society. Excusing a modicum of vice and slavery that seems necessary to grasp the future of a large group, even control and '3D-print it' it (don't tell me it's a balancing resolution against the PV-Monetization of future profits in the Nomi

Inflation Tolerances, Expectations and Socio-Political Strategies

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Inflation Tolerances, Expectations and Socio-Political Strategies Ganga Prasad Rao Energy, Environmental and Mineral Economist gangaprasad.rao@gmail.com gprasadrao@hotmail.com Disclaimer : The Author makes no claims to the factuality of the content, or the outcomes indicated in the designs proposed hereinunder. In the long run, inflation is my Dad,.......... even Mom! Introduction Inflation is in the news.... yet again! This time, it is the right-leaning BJP-led government making a compact with the RBI to manage inflation within a broad-band. Sounds quite fair and uncomplicated. After all, it is the Government's business to make decisions that concern the fisc, and the Central bank's mandate to manage monetary policy, including inflation, in a manner consistent with the Government's short- and intermediate-term macroeconomic plans. But look deeper......and ask what if the RBI does not get it right? It is universally known among Monetary economists that inflation,