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How India's Economy Works
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India’s households save a substantial share of their income, but much of that saving goes into physical assets such as gold and real estate rather than financial instruments. Why does this matter for the economy? And what does the composition of household savings have to do with investment, borrowing costs and economic growth?In this episode of How India’s Economy Works, journalist and author Puja Mehra speaks with economist Vidya Mahambare, Union Bank Chair Professor of Economics and Director (Research and Fellow Programme In Management) at the Great Lakes Institute of Management in Chennai about India’s household savings and why financial savings are particularly important. They discuss why households save heavily in physical assets, the role of gold and housing, rising household financial liabilities, and why financial savings have increased but remain relatively small compared with physical savings.They also examine whether tax policy creates different incentives for physical and financial savings, and discuss possible ways to encourage households to shift more of their savings into financial instruments without simply asking them to save more overall. Tune in for insights on India’s savings patterns, financial savings, household investment, borrowing costs and the policy changes that could reshape how Indians save.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction to Household Savings(01:00) Domestic Savings and Investment Needs(05:35) Financial Savings Lower Borrowing Costs(07:16) Comparing Global Household Savings Rates(09:35) Reasons for Physical Asset Dominance(12:47) Rising Liabilities and Net Savings(14:02) Distortions in Real Estate Taxation(17:46) Ending Taxes on Financial Reshuffling(21:44) Rebalancing Incentives Across Asset Classes(24:20) Offsetting Fiscal Revenue via Agriculture(27:12) Shifting Savings Composition Over VolumeFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube
The episode examines how rising government borrowing, persistent inflation, changing bond investors and huge AI-related investment needs are reshaping global bond markets. In this episode of How India’s Economy Works, Puja Mehra speaks with Dr. Anoop Singh, economist and Former Director of the IMF. Singh explains why the US Treasury market matters far beyond the United States, why central banks have less control over long-term borrowing costs than many assume, and how the world is entering what he describes as a “new fiscal era” marked by greater fiscal dominance.The conversation also looks at the implications for India. Singh discusses India’s high public debt and fiscal deficit, the importance of maintaining fiscal and central-bank credibility, and why the key question is not simply how much the government can borrow today, but whether that borrowing will generate enough productive investment and growth to service the debt in the future. He also examines India’s definition of capital expenditure, the need for greater spending on research and development and innovation, and the importance of building stronger fiscal buffers.Tune in for insights on the global bond-market shift, fiscal dominance, rising borrowing costs, India’s public finances, and why fiscal credibility is increasingly tied to economic growth.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction to Global Bond Markets(00:35) Liquidity Buybacks and Currency Interventions(02:58) The Federal Reserve Rate Decision(06:15) Entering the Fiscal Dominance Era(12:18) Political Barriers to Budget Adjustments(16:56) Fiscal Credibility Linked with Growth(22:27) Global Spillovers on Indian Debt(24:02) Redefining Quality in Capital Expenditure(27:27) Persistent Global Inflation and Buffers(32:29) Sustainability of State Fiscal DeficitsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube
In this episode of How India’s Economy Works, Puja Mehra speaks with political scientist and economic historian Rohit Chandra, Assistant Professor at the School of Public Policy of IIT, Delhi. They talk about what those crises taught India, how the country’s energy system has changed, and what the latest Iran conflict and Strait of Hormuz disruption reveal about India’s continuing vulnerabilities.Chandra explains why India was better placed to absorb the latest shock than it was in the 1970s, thanks to greater electrification, domestic refining capacity and crude storage. But he argues that the human and economic costs have been underestimated, particularly for poorer households, migrant workers and small businesses. He also discusses India’s dependence on imported energy, the delayed response to LPG shortages, the need for greater strategic petroleum reserves, and why energy efficiency must focus more on industry than households.The conversation also looks ahead at what India needs to do differently: give public-sector energy companies greater autonomy, allow them to invest and experiment across a changing energy economy, make energy-sector contracts more transparent, and create a more predictable policy environment for investors. Chandra argues that crises often push governments towards ad hoc, statist interventions — making clear rules and predictability essential for long-term energy security.Tune in for insights on India’s oil shock, energy security, strategic petroleum reserves, LPG shortages, energy efficiency, PSU autonomy and the policy lessons from past crises.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction to India's Oil Vulnerability(01:01) History of Indian Energy Shocks(08:27) Hidden Costs of Recent Disruptions(15:12) Strategic Petroleum Reserves and Preparedness(18:56) Industrial Efficiency and PSU Autonomy(24:42) Global Oil Markets and Supply(29:54) Big-Picture Energy Sector Reforms(32:15) Transparency in Energy Market Contracting(35:48) Predictability and Future Investment PoliciesFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube
India’s latest GDP numbers show the economy growing at 7.8%, but how much confidence should we place in that figure? In this episode of How India’s Economy Works, Puja Mehra speaks with economist Rajeswari Sengupta about the complexities of measuring India’s GDP, the latest base-year revision and the methodological changes behind the new estimates.Sengupta explains why India’s large informal economy, limited data, rapid structural change and the absence of comprehensive income data make GDP estimation particularly challenging. She also breaks down the shift from single deflation to double deflation, the use of producer price indices, and why the statistical office’s lack of detailed sources-and-methods documentation has raised concerns. The conversation also examines the use of GST data and surveys of the informal sector, the credibility of the new GDP series, and the unusual spending boom implied by the latest quarterly numbers despite a sharp rise in import prices. Sengupta argues that the debate should be about transparency and statistical methodology—not politics. Tune in for insights on India’s GDP measurement, the new base-year revision, double deflation, data transparency, and the puzzle surrounding the 7.8% growth figure.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction to Indian GDP Estimation(01:19) Challenges in Indian GDP Measurement(09:47) Uncaptured Services and Gig Economy(15:19) Controversies of Past Base Revisions(21:42) Single Versus Double Deflation Explained(26:04) Shift from WPI to PPI Deflation(32:43) Missing Methodology and Sources Document(35:10) Doubts Around Quarterly GDP Numbers(40:01) Mismatched Identifiers in GST Data(46:12) Political Pressures on Statistical Agencies(52:48) The Terms of Trade Shock PuzzleFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube
In this episode of How India’s Economy Works, Puja Mehra speaks with Ananth Narayan, Economist and Former Whole Time Member, SEBI about the growing interconnections between India’s interest-rate, equity and currency markets—and the unintended consequences of intervening in each of them separately.Narayan argues that the RBI’s aggressive intervention in the bond market, including record purchases of government bonds, has kept interest rates artificially low and weakened the appeal of fixed-income assets for domestic savers. This, he says, has pushed more savings into equities and overseas assets, contributed to stretched equity valuations, and made it harder for foreign capital to flow into India. At the same time, lower interest-rate differentials have created incentives for hedgers and speculators to buy dollars, adding pressure on the rupee.The conversation explores the idea of an “impossible trinity” in a more interconnected financial system, why RBI intervention in one market can create problems in another, and whether India needs to allow markets to function more freely. Narayan also discusses tax reforms for fixed income, greater freedom for Indians to invest overseas, and why policymakers need to take a holistic view of financial markets.Tune in for insights on RBI intervention, interest rates, the rupee, capital flows, equity valuations and what India needs for more sustainable capital formation.CHAPTERS(00:00) Introduction to the Impossible Trilemma(01:19) Interconnected Markets and Bond Interventions(04:57) Low Rates Distort Credit Markets(12:15) Discretionary Savings Flood Equity Markets(15:47) Domestic Overvaluation Deters Foreign Capital(24:49) Interest Differentials Drive Dollar Outflows(28:51) Subsidized Swaps and Forex Interventions(31:54) Reforming Fixed Income Tax Parity(36:18) Allowing Freer Overseas Investment LimitsFor more of our coverage check out thecore.inFollow us on:Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin | Youtube








