Superb article on FoxCon and women. Also love the take on Bangalore water supply. Questioknfor both RSJ and Pranay: You have alwaysbvery succintly explained WTF of public policy in India. Using key frameworks how would you explain relative success of Singapore - which is also an interventionsit state at many levels
You have just verbalized (in policy matter) the song that is stuck in my head since the last 5 days. Such sharp writing, it hit and cut me. Also, never under estimate what a babu can regulate.
Lastly, about the point on conditions in Sivakasi versus a hyundai or foxconn set up. As you know I have worked in a sector where I could see these complaints up and close. I have seen the complaints on flimsiest grounds possible when it came to those made against MNCs. Also, those complaints were allowed to run their course for a longer time just so they cause enough embarrassment to the company and they come to the table to settle.
On the other hand, complaints on similar 'Indian' or 'local' companies were put out quicker. I don't know what I am getting in this discussion by telling you all this, but because everything everywhere is only about me, I thought I will say it. And said I.
Heard from a friend that the tanker person in her area told her "I go and stand in line at 5 am in the morning and wait for 2+ hours to fill my tank to supply water to you. So govt will make many rules, but it does not work out for us. As you mentioned, the moment govt intervened the demand/supply is getting distorted. Instead, they can increase water tankers from BWSSB end and ease the demand pressure and supply-side prices. In the long-term this will disincentivize the tankers to be in this market, but anyways I was wondering it is (public or common good?) that government needs to fufill.
Ref to water tanker issue, governments very often resort to "price capping" regulations (eg surge pricing for Uber/Ola, cinema hall ticket prices in TN, etc) because it is popular with the public, without realising that they are treating the symptom, (an indicator) and not the disease (the underlying problem).
I find the whole topic of water-scars so frustrating.
So many people and politicians from all parties jumped in with the solution of "price capping". Also jealousy/anger directed against the "apartment-dwellers"/"gated society residents" is a heady mix. I remember the glee and joy in many social groups when they saw the premium villas and costly cars (Audis/BMWs) submerged under water during Bangalore 2022 floods. So many folks even gave up the pretense of showing mock sympathy.
Coming to the broader theme of why a big part of the society is so firmly anti-free-market, anti-prosperity (RSJ's piece):
Superb article on FoxCon and women. Also love the take on Bangalore water supply. Questioknfor both RSJ and Pranay: You have alwaysbvery succintly explained WTF of public policy in India. Using key frameworks how would you explain relative success of Singapore - which is also an interventionsit state at many levels
You have just verbalized (in policy matter) the song that is stuck in my head since the last 5 days. Such sharp writing, it hit and cut me. Also, never under estimate what a babu can regulate.
Lastly, about the point on conditions in Sivakasi versus a hyundai or foxconn set up. As you know I have worked in a sector where I could see these complaints up and close. I have seen the complaints on flimsiest grounds possible when it came to those made against MNCs. Also, those complaints were allowed to run their course for a longer time just so they cause enough embarrassment to the company and they come to the table to settle.
On the other hand, complaints on similar 'Indian' or 'local' companies were put out quicker. I don't know what I am getting in this discussion by telling you all this, but because everything everywhere is only about me, I thought I will say it. And said I.
Heard from a friend that the tanker person in her area told her "I go and stand in line at 5 am in the morning and wait for 2+ hours to fill my tank to supply water to you. So govt will make many rules, but it does not work out for us. As you mentioned, the moment govt intervened the demand/supply is getting distorted. Instead, they can increase water tankers from BWSSB end and ease the demand pressure and supply-side prices. In the long-term this will disincentivize the tankers to be in this market, but anyways I was wondering it is (public or common good?) that government needs to fufill.
Ref to water tanker issue, governments very often resort to "price capping" regulations (eg surge pricing for Uber/Ola, cinema hall ticket prices in TN, etc) because it is popular with the public, without realising that they are treating the symptom, (an indicator) and not the disease (the underlying problem).
I find the whole topic of water-scars so frustrating.
So many people and politicians from all parties jumped in with the solution of "price capping". Also jealousy/anger directed against the "apartment-dwellers"/"gated society residents" is a heady mix. I remember the glee and joy in many social groups when they saw the premium villas and costly cars (Audis/BMWs) submerged under water during Bangalore 2022 floods. So many folks even gave up the pretense of showing mock sympathy.
Coming to the broader theme of why a big part of the society is so firmly anti-free-market, anti-prosperity (RSJ's piece):
// Rant starts -------------------------------------------------
"Mental conditioning by dogmatic religions for millennia (including the newer religion of Marx).
- Your salvation is suffering yourself while serving others.
- The rich will do anything for the poor but get off their backs. blah. blah."
// Rant ends ---------------------------------------------------