Economists as anthropologists

...In fact, the most powerful moments in the book are almost touchingly old-fashioned. In the chapter on education, there is a poignant moment that tells you more about the ways in which our education system fails the poor than any randomised trial would. This is the moment where one of their interlocutors uses the phrase “children from homes like ours..,” highlighting a persistent problem of treating the poor as another species. Banerjee and Dufflo indict the system for its low expectations of what poor students can accomplish; these low expectations constitute the poverty trap the poor are trying to escape. Non-economists may have an interest in exaggerating this aspect. But the qualities of research that stand out most vividly in this book are not the randomised trials, but the richness with which Dufflo and Banerjee bring the poor into the conversation. We are grateful to randomised trials because they have turned economists into first-rate anthropologists.

Pratap Bhanu Mehta on Poor Economics. For more, see Ed Carr

Via The Economist: The states in India

">

More reasons for academics to blog/write op-eds

Output of science papers increased 15% between 1990 and 2001, with total output over 650,000. But, fewer than 0.013—0.34% of papers gained attention from mass media, with health/medicine papers taking the lion’s share of coverage. Fields outside of health/medicine had an appearance rate of only 0.001—0.005%. In light of findings that show scientific literacy declining despite growing public interest and scientific output, this study attempts to show that reliance on journal publication and subsequent coverage by the media as the sole form of communication en masse is failing to communicate science to the public.

via MR's links 

My civil society, not yours

In a typically hard-hitting column, Sainath says -

...Both were self-selected groups claiming primacy over the elected government. Both asserted they knew what was best for the nation. (Rather than an electorate they scorned as sold on a bottle of liquor or a hundred-rupee note). Both had no qualms about breaking down the walls between the institutions of state. Never mind the Constitution, they sought a body whose members they would largely appoint. A super organ above the legislature, the executive and the judiciary. Take the government notification on the drafting body for the Lokpal bill. It uses the words: “The five nominees of Anna Hazare [including himself] are as under…” When have such vital national appointments been made by and in the name of one individual, however noble?...

This, about Anna Hazare and gang; and Baba Ramdev - both self-appointed guardians of India's civil society. Sadly, this movement against corruption and the corrupt is not only vulnerable to moral corruption, it also sets a bad example of placing individuals above institutions. Analysts have already pointed out how Anna's Lokpal (ombudsman) and the process they recommend for its selection is in violation of reasonable democratic principles - I say 'reasonable', taking into account the compromises that are today inherent in our democratic system.

Having been in India for a week now, I have also had to endure Anna and team on television, making ridiculous arguments that basically reveal how little they trust electoral politics and broadly, the democratic system. They want to impress the nation with their impatience - a trait that's not really conducive to constructive dialogue and policymaking processes. What would I like to see is Anna and team mobilising thousands of volunteers/professionals to launch mass movements in say, every district in the country who in turn will spread the word far and wide. Instead, with a self-serving and self-righteous definition to civil society, Anna and gang are not contributing anything to strengthening governance in the country - in fact, they are not just of nuisance value, they might actually be doing harm.

Whatever Ramdev stood for ceased to matter the moment he talked of an armed army of 11,000. Thanks.

All of this is not to say that the government is clean or that it is serious about dealing with corruption. Sure, these movements have shaken the government out of its inertia. But is this going to lead to anything concrete? Doesn't look likely at the moment.

The world is not enough...

Next year, even a perfect score may not be enough

A teacher of the BCom (Hons) course, who was involved with the calibration for the cut-offs, said at some point they risked taking the cut-off even above 100 per cent. “We had decided that the cut-off for Category A students would be 96.25 per cent, but then noticed we would have to push the cut-off of Category E to 100.25 per cent, keeping in line with the four per cent difference rule.”

News from my alma-mater SRCC, in the midst of the annual college admissions madness

NYT on Gurgaon

“If Gurgaon had not happened, the rest of India’s development would not have happened, either,” contended Mr. Singh, the chairman of DLF. “Gurgaon became a pacesetter.”

is how this NYT article ends. I don't agree (neither do the authors, I think). Doesn't matter though. Next week, I will be there!   

Politics in Tamil Nadu

J.Jayalalitha recently won the state elections in Tamil Nadu. In an interview today - 

Q: You were not wearing any jewellery for a long time. Any reason why you have started wearing ear-studs now?

A: "...As soon as the results were declared on May 13, a large number of party workers gathered at my house to celebrate our victory. Some of them said that if even after this resounding victory I refused to wear any ornaments, they would pour kerosene on themselves and commit self-immolation. My party cadre tend to carry out such threats. Many have attempted self-immolation for various reasons in the past and we have been unable to save their lives. So, I was taken aback by their threat. As I didn’t want any untoward incident at a time when there was every reason to celebrate, I changed my mind and started wearing ear studs. If I had to wear some jewellery to save the lives of my party cadre, I was ready to change my mind and I began to wear ear studs from 14th. Already, some have cut off their own tongue and finger in the name of making an offering..."

I want to cry.