In Episode 20 of Business Diplomacy Today, host Matthias Catón is joined by Ashoka Mody, Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor in International Economic Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University and author of “India is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today”. Matthias and Ashoka delve into how the world’s largest democracy faces obstacles in achieving fair and equal development, with a specific focus on how its history has shaped its present.
With a detailed exploration into India’s history since 1947, Matthias and Ashoka look at theories of “path dependence” and how India’s previous leaders and historical events have shaped its politics and development today. From unaddressed economic challenges, to a lack of public goods and the breakdown of accountability, Ashoka provides an intriguing argument to the hindrances of India’s development.
Matthias and Ashoka converse on three pressing themes: India’s economy, its growing inequality, and democracy and accountability. Ashoka debates the need to provide quality goods for the general population; and further suggests a potential solution of decentralising power – identifying Kerala as a role model.
Bringing the topic to a global and business context, Matthias questions if India’s problems are not uncommon for emerging economies and the responsibility of businesses to address these challenges. As a growing destination for investment and India’s role on the global stage, this episode is a must listen for those interested in market access and entry to India.
About the guest
Ashoka Mody is Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor in International Economic Policy at the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University. He is author of EuroTragedy: A Drama in Nine Acts. Previously, Professor Mody was Deputy Director in the International Monetary Fund’s Research and European Departments. He has worked at the World Bank, AT&T’s Bell Laboratories, and the Centre for Development Studies, Trivandrum. He has been a Visiting Professor at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School and is a non-resident fellow at the Center for Financial Studies, Frankfurt. He received his Ph.D. in Economics from Boston University.
Ashoka Mody has published a book, “India is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today” (Stanford University Press, 2023). He brings his Indian heart to this provocative new account of how India moved relentlessly from its hope-filled founding in 1947 to the dramatic economic and democratic breakdowns of today.
Executive Briefing – what you should read now
- Mody, Ashoka (2023) India is Broken: A People Betrayed, Independence to Today
- Iyer, Kavitha (2021) Landscapes of Loss: The Story of an Indian Drought
- Independent Digital Media Outlets – The Wire (https://thewire.in/), Scroll (https://scroll.in/), Article 14 (https://article-14.com/)
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