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Kaushik Basu

Kaushik Basu

Writing for PS since 2002
106 commentaries

Kaushik Basu, a former chief economist of the World Bank and chief economic adviser to the Government of India, is Professor of Economics at Cornell University and a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution.

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  1. Economics, Empathy, and the US Election
    basu106_Julia BeverlyGetty Images_kamalaharris Julia Beverly/Getty Images

    Economics, Empathy, and the US Election

    Sep 25, 2024 Kaushik Basu warns that Donald Trump’s policy agenda could leave American workers much worse off than they are now.

  2. Bangladesh’s Stand Against Authoritarianism
    basu105_Zabed Hasnain ChowdhuryNurPhoto via Getty Images_bangladeshprotests Zabed Hasnain Chowdhury/NurPhoto via Getty Images

    Bangladesh’s Stand Against Authoritarianism

    Aug 26, 2024 Kaushik Basu urges interim leaders to rebuild political institutions and stabilize the economy before calling elections.

  3. To Preserve Democracy, Tax the Rich
    basu104_Getty Images_inequality Getty Images

    To Preserve Democracy, Tax the Rich

    Aug 1, 2024 Kaushik Basu argues that rising economic inequality has become is the handmaiden of authoritarian forces worldwide.

  4. Britain’s Now-or-Never Moment
    basu103_Ian ForsythGetty Images_polling station uk Ian Forsyth/Getty Images

    Britain’s Now-or-Never Moment

    Jul 4, 2024 Kaushik Basu explains why increased public infrastructure investment is needed to improve the country’s economic prospects.

  5. A Plea for Political Economy
    basu102_Jeff GritchenMediaNews GroupOrange County Register via Getty Images_shippingcontainers Jeff Gritchen/MediaNews Group/Orange County Register via Getty Images

    A Plea for Political Economy

    May 31, 2024 Kaushik Basu thinks understanding recent technological advances requires economists to revive an old tradition.

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  1. samadashvili3_ GIORGI ARJEVANIDZEAFP via Getty Images_georgia elections GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE/AFP via Getty Images

    The End of Georgia’s European Dream?

    Salome Samadashvili

    Initial evidence suggests that the victory of the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party in the recent parliamentary election reflects widespread fraud. If the West fails to support democratic opposition parties in challenging the results, Georgia’s 30-year-old democracy could come to an end.

    urges Western leaders to take steps to halt the country’s slide into authoritarianism.
  2. grigaitedaugirde1_Alex GottschalkDeFodi Images via Getty Images_icc Alex GottschalkDeFodi Images via Getty Images

    Belarus in the Dock

    Gabija Grigaitė-Daugirdė & Aarif Abraham explain why Lithuania is requesting an International Criminal Court investigation into its neighbor.
  3. jschwartz1_EonerenGetty Images_sustainabilityfinance Eoneren/Getty Images

    Where Financial Innovation Meets Sustainable Development

    Jordan Schwartz explains why new instruments must be standardized and integrated into developing countries’ economic policies.
  4. rzlawrence1_MEGAN JELINGERAFP via Getty Images_us manufacturing MEGAN JELINGER/AFP via Getty Images

    No President Can Revive US Manufacturing Employment

    Robert Z. Lawrence explains why there is no going back to the heyday of middle-class factory jobs for low-skilled workers.
  5. bailey1_The Washington PostContributorGettyImages_election_polling_screen The Washington Post/Contributor/Getty Images

    Is Political Polling Broken?

    Michael A. Bailey urges pollsters to stop thinking in terms of random samples and instead focus on diagnosing non-response bias.
  6. fischer221_MAXIM SHIPENKOVPOOLAFP via Getty Images_BRICSputinxi Maxim Shipenkov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    Don’t Dismiss the BRICS

    Joschka Fischer thinks it would be a serious mistake for Western strategists to ignore the bloc and what it represents.
  7. krueger80_PUNIT PARANJPEAFP via Getty Images_india PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images

    Can India Become a Developed Economy by Mid-Century?

    Anne O. Krueger urges policymakers to resume key structural reforms and streamline regulations that stifle business activity.
  8. posner36_Scott OlsonGetty Images_trumpsupporters Scott Olson/Getty Images

    Why Many Workers Now Vote Republican

    Eric Posner explains how the failures of neoliberalism came to benefit the traditional party of business.
  9. ito41_Takashi AoyamaGetty Images_japan election Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images

    Japan’s Electoral Stalemate

    Takatoshi Ito considers the political and economic implications of the ruling bloc’s loss of its parliamentary majority.

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