Political Economy

The Billionaire Raj: What India’s Inequality Actually Costs

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High inequality in India is not only a fairness concern but an economic constraint. Credit gaps, elite network effects, and reduced social trust limit mobility and misallocate talent. When opportunity depends on background rather than ability, growth slows and institutional capacity weakens, reinforcing a cycle that sustains inequality across generations.

Trust as Infrastructure: Why India’s Low Social Capital Is an Economic Problem

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Trust functions like economic infrastructure: it lowers transaction costs, enables scale, and allows markets to extend beyond personal networks. When institutional reliability is weak, individuals rationally rely on relationships instead of rules, keeping firms small and growth constrained. Strengthening courts, accountability, and equity can gradually expand generalized trust.