Costs of Democracy

Costs of Democracy

Author: Devesh Kapur

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Published: 2018-06-13

Total Pages: 383

ISBN-13: 019909313X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

One of the most troubling critiques of contemporary democracy is the inability of representative governments to regulate the deluge of money in politics. If it is impossible to conceive of democracies without elections, it is equally impractical to imagine elections without money. Costs of Democracy is an exhaustive, ground-breaking study of money in Indian politics that opens readers’ eyes to the opaque and enigmatic ways in which money flows through the political veins of the world’s largest democracy. Through original, in-depth investigation—drawing from extensive fieldwork on political campaigns, pioneering surveys, and innovative data analysis—the contributors in this volume uncover the institutional and regulatory contexts governing the torrent of money in politics; the sources of political finance; the reasons for such large spending; and how money flows, influences, and interacts with different tiers of government. The book raises uncomfortable questions about whether the flood of money risks washing away electoral democracy itself.


Crisis and Predation

Crisis and Predation

Author: The Research Unit for Political Economy

Publisher: Monthly Review Press

Published: 2020-11-15

Total Pages: 216

ISBN-13: 1583679243

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

How India's COVID-19 lockdown is creating an unprecedented humanitarian disaster With the advent of COVID-19, India’s rulers imposed the world’s most stringent lockdown on an already depressed economy, dealing a body blow to the majority of India’s billion-plus population. Yet the Indian government’s spending to cushion the lockdown’s economic impact ranked among the world’s lowest in GDP terms, resulting in unprecedented unemployment and hardship. Crisis and Predation shows how this tight-fistedness stems from the fact that global financial interests oppose any sizable expansion of public spending by India, and that Indian rulers readily adhere to their guidance. The authors reveal that global investors and a handful of top Indian corporate groups actually benefit from the resulting demand depression: armed with funds, they are picking up valuable assets at distress prices. Meanwhile, under the banner of reviving private investment, India’s rulers have planned giant privatizations, and drastically revised laws concerning industrial labor, the peasantry, and the environment—in favor of large capital. And yet, this book contends, India could defy the pressures of global finance in order to address the basic needs of its people. But this would require shedding reliance on foreign capital flows, and taking a course of democratic national development. This, then, is a pursuit, not for India’s ruling classes, but a course of struggle for India's people.


The Global Findex Database 2017

The Global Findex Database 2017

Author: Asli Demirguc-Kunt

Publisher: World Bank Publications

Published: 2018-04-19

Total Pages: 228

ISBN-13: 1464812683

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In 2011 the World Bank—with funding from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation—launched the Global Findex database, the world's most comprehensive data set on how adults save, borrow, make payments, and manage risk. Drawing on survey data collected in collaboration with Gallup, Inc., the Global Findex database covers more than 140 economies around the world. The initial survey round was followed by a second one in 2014 and by a third in 2017. Compiled using nationally representative surveys of more than 150,000 adults age 15 and above in over 140 economies, The Global Findex Database 2017: Measuring Financial Inclusion and the Fintech Revolution includes updated indicators on access to and use of formal and informal financial services. It has additional data on the use of financial technology (or fintech), including the use of mobile phones and the Internet to conduct financial transactions. The data reveal opportunities to expand access to financial services among people who do not have an account—the unbanked—as well as to promote greater use of digital financial services among those who do have an account. The Global Findex database has become a mainstay of global efforts to promote financial inclusion. In addition to being widely cited by scholars and development practitioners, Global Findex data are used to track progress toward the World Bank goal of Universal Financial Access by 2020 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The database, the full text of the report, and the underlying country-level data for all figures—along with the questionnaire, the survey methodology, and other relevant materials—are available at www.worldbank.org/globalfindex.


Capital Markets of India

Capital Markets of India

Author: Alan R. Kanuk

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons

Published: 2011-07-22

Total Pages: 336

ISBN-13: 111816072X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Capital Markets in India: An Investor's Guide aims to provide the first comprehensive book on investing in the India markets. India is right now at the forefront of globalization. The book's focus is on the equity market, but it also addresses derivatives, fixed income, and foreign direct investments. Chapter topics include facts about the Indian economy; the Foreign Institutional Investor (FII) regulations, registration process, and applications; detail about the market regulation and the regulator; the very important market safeguards built into the Indian market systems; and lists of companies ranked by various criteria such as capitalization, turnover, industry, and earnings. The book even supplies investors and traders with contact information for many of the key institutions and market players. Readers will not only gain basic information about how the markets in India work, but also the contacts and facts to help them with their own investing plan.


Power, Administration and Finance in Mughal India

Power, Administration and Finance in Mughal India

Author: John F. Richards

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2024-10-28

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 104023447X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

From the mid-16th to the early 18th centuries the Mughal empire was the dominant power in the Indian subcontinent. Contrary to what is sometimes suggested, John Richards argues that this centralised state was dynamic and skillfully run. The studies here consider its links with the wider early modern world, and focus on three related aspects of its history. The first concerns the nature of imperial authority, in terms both of the dynastic ideology created by Akbar and his successors, and the extent to which this authority could be enforced in the countryside. The second aspect is that of fiscal and monetary policy and administration: how did the Mughals collect, track and expend their vast revenues, and what effects did this have? Finally, the author asks why the system could not cope with the changes it had helped engender, and what were the weaknesses and pressures that led to the breakup of the empire in the first decades of the 18th century. De la moitié du 16e siècle au début du 18e, l’empire moghol était le pouvoir dominant du sous-continent indien. Contrairement à ce qui peut parfois être suggéré, John Richards soutient que cet état centralisé était dynamique et adroitement mené. Les études examinent ses liens avec le reste du monde moderne et se concentrent sur trois aspects de son histoire. Le premier concerne la nature de l’autorité impériale, en termes d’idéologie dynastique, telle qu’elle avait été créée par Akbar et ses successeurs et du point jusqu’auquel cette autorité pouvait être imposée dans les milieux ruraux. Le second aspect est celui de l’administration et de la politique fiscale et monétaire: comment les Moghols faisaient-ils pour collecter, retrouver et dépenser leurs vastes revenus et quel était l’effet d’une telle politique? Enfin, l’auteur cherche à savoir pourquoi ce système n’arrivait pas à faire face aux changements qu’il avait contribué à engendrer et quelles avaient été


Democratizing Finance

Democratizing Finance

Author: Marion Laboure

Publisher: Harvard University Press

Published: 2022-01-01

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 0674987225

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

We are only in the early stages of a broader revolution that will impact every aspect of the global economy, including commerce and government services. Coming financial technology innovations could improve the quality of life for all people. Over the past few decades, digital technology has transformed finance. Financial technology (fintech) has enabled more people with fewer resources, in more places around the world, to take advantage of banking, insurance, credit, investment, and other financial services. Marion Laboure and Nicolas Deffrennes argue that these changes are only the tip of the iceberg. A much broader revolution is under way that, if steered correctly, will lead to huge and beneficial social change. The authors describe the genesis of recent financial innovations and how they have helped consumers in rich and poor countries alike by reducing costs, increasing accessibility, and improving convenience and efficiency. They connect the dots between early innovations in financial services and the wider revolution unfolding today. Changes may disrupt traditional financial services, especially banking, but they may also help us address major social challenges: opening new career paths for millennials, transforming government services, and expanding the gig economy in developed markets. Fintech could lead to economic infrastructure developments in rural areas and could facilitate emerging social security and healthcare systems in developing countries. The authors make this case with a rich combination of economic theory and case studies, including microanalyses of the effects of fintech innovations on individuals, as well as macroeconomic perspectives on fintech's impact on societies. While celebrating fintech's achievements to date, Laboure and Deffrennes also make recommendations for overcoming the obstacles that remain. The stakes--improved quality of life for all people--could not be higher.


FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION IN INDIA, Second Edition

FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION IN INDIA, Second Edition

Author: Mahajan, Sanjeev Kumar

Publisher: PHI Learning Pvt. Ltd.

Published: 2021-01-01

Total Pages: 476

ISBN-13: 819468515X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The second edition of the book comprehensively covers the vast subject of Financial Administration in a coherent and simple language. Providing vivid explanation with suitable examples of the topics prescribed in the core paper offered to undergraduate and postgraduate students of public administration, it thoroughly discusses all the key topics as per the UPSC syllabus. The book deals with the major types and the process of budgeting, committees, commissions and tax administration in India. Creating foundation of the concepts laid by Kautilya, the book gives a clear understanding and view how they have evolved into modern concepts in India. KEY FEATURES • Blend of theoretical and practical aspects • Evolution of the concepts in Financial Administration • Across-the-board study of original government reports • Includes topics like NITI Aayog; XIV and XV Finance Commission TARGET AUDIENCE • B.A. Hons. Public Administration • B.A. Public Administration • UPSC–Civil Services Exam


Public Finance in Ancient India

Public Finance in Ancient India

Author: K.R. Sarkar

Publisher: Abhinav Publications

Published: 2003-06

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9788170170723

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This book is an attempt to focus the attention on the sound economic ideas, magnificent financial management prevalent in ancient India. To start with a comparative position of ancient India and other ancient seats of civilization in this regard has been highlighted. The principles of Taxation, classification of Revenues–both from tax and non-tax sources and various taxes in vogue such as Land Revenue, Customs, Excise Duty, Sales Tax, Excess Profits Tax, Octroi etc. and also revenue from non-tax sources feature in the few subsequent chapters. The principles of expenditure and classification of State expenditure–Military, Civil and Welfare-oriented expenditures–are dealt with in the next few chapters. Financial Administration and methods of Accounting and also Budget including performance budget have been discussed. The findings of this book are based not only on the literary sources but also on the epigraphical evidences.


India's Emerging Financial Market

India's Emerging Financial Market

Author: Tomoe Moore

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2007-09-27

Total Pages: 204

ISBN-13: 1134079214

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In the early 1990s, financial liberalization started in India, and it was thought that such reforms would increase economic growth. This book is the first study to comprehensively apply the flow of funds model for India.