Gender gaps in labour force participation rates in India affect the “potential output” and also harm the inclusiveness of the growth process.

 

IMF’s World Economy Outlook recently reported that India’s real GDP growth forecast for FY19 remains at 7.3% while it is relatively higher at …

Volatility in intergovernmental fiscal transfers has had significant impact on the forecasts of public deficits by state governments.

 

Does the ministry of finance produce biased budget forecasts in India? Does the electoral cycle predominantly determine the fiscal behaviour of the Centre? The answers …

If the fastest and smartest path towards economic growth is to increase the female labour force participation, one policy which can bring radical change is “parental leave” policy for child care. Making eligibility to paid parental leave “gender neutral” is an urgent policy reform to eliminate the distorted debates …

(Co-authored with Lekha Chakraborty)

 

Does democracy determine public expenditure decisions? With Nobel laureate Hurwicz’s revelation that it is impossible to have simultaneously a balanced budget, Pareto optimality (“you are better off without making anyone worse off”) and an incentive compatibility between Government and the citizens, …

(Co-authored with Lekha Chakraborty)

 

The Terms of Reference of Finance Commissions have expanded over the years, but concerns arising out of gender inequality have never been a part of ToR. This has happened in spite of the growing realisation that it is necessary to deal …