Protect our children from the dangers of the Internet

Kailash Satyarthi | Child-rights activist and Nobel Peace Laureate 2014
Hindustan Times

Satyarthi supports the need for a “legally binding international convention against online sexual abuse of children”. He highlights the extent to which child pornography is being disseminated on the internet, and how difficult it has become to control it. “Cybersex trafficking of children is proliferating as one of the most brutal forms of modern day slavery,” he says.

He also says that in the past 12 months multiple global leaders and organisations have come out in support of such a convention. These include Pope Francis, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and International Trade Union Confederation, among others.

Such a convention will “ensure a convergence of policy and efforts at national, bilateral and international levels”, he adds.

Slippery slopes of democracy

Suhas Palshikar | Co-director, Lokniti and chief editor, Studies in Indian Politics
The Indian Express

Palshikar argues that BJP’s rise is the result of an “extraordinary coincidence of the demand side of political culture and the supply side of BJP’s politics”. He says that since Congress’ decline, which began in 1989, one can observe two “intertwined narratives of victimhood and dominance”. While Indian society considers itself being left behind, it also harbours dreams of becoming a global power.

This, he says, has led to the politics of Hindu assertion. BJP has not only shaped this sentiment but also articulated it well. Also, the sentiment for a strong leader who can provide “effective stewardship” has been constantly rising. From a little over 30 per cent in 2004-05, now approximately 66 per cent of people prefer a strong leader.

He cautions that Indian democracy is taking a rather difficult route where it is hard to convince voters about the threats of majoritarianism.

The loss is not just Istanbul

Mohammed Ayoob | Senior fellow, Center for Global Policy, Washington, DC, and University Distinguished Professor Emeritus of International Relations, Michigan State University
The Hindu

Mohammed Ayoob argues that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s grip over Turkey seems to be weakening. The recent results of Istanbul’s mayoral election saw Erdogan’s party lose to the opposition candidate.

This verdict is very important since one-fifth of Turkey’s population lives in Istanbul. The city also has a share of more than 30 per cent in the country’s GDP. In other major cities as well, such as Ankara and Izmir, Erdogan’s party has lost the elections.

He attributes this decline in Erdogan’s popularity to his mishandling of the country’s economy. The Turkish lira has had a precipitous fall in the past year, and the government has spent large sums on needless projects such as new airports, bridges and gigantic mosques. Further, his constant quarrels with Fethullah Gulen, the US-based Muslim cleric blamed by Ankara for a failed 2016 coup, has also alienated members of his Islamist supporters.

Factors like his ultra-nationalist stance has alienated the Kurds, and contributed to his declining popularity.

India’s China syndrome

Abheek Barua | Chief economist, HDFC Bank
Tushar Arora | Senior economist, HDFC Bank
Business Standard

Barua and Arora write about some of the questions raised about India’s GDP estimates, following the release of a paper by former chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian. They say that Subramanian’s paper has familiar elements of intense debate about the reliability of Chinese economic data. They point out how Subramanian’s argument revolves around proxy indicators that are similar to the ones used by Li Keqiang, the current Chinese premier. The authors argue how a declining correlation between growth and other indicators, such as credit and exports, capture the shift in India’s national income structure towards a consumption-led growth that is similar to China’s.

Dangers of Sensationalism

Arvind Panagariya | Professor of Economics, Columbia University
The Economic Times

Meanwhile, Panagariya criticises the overestimation of GDP claims by Subramanian and calls it “problem-ridden” and far fetched. He argues that Subramanian has either blundered or proceeded with it, despite its shortcomings, in the hope of creating a sensation.

Subramanian is the first economist to write in such sensational terms, soon after leaving his position, he says and many outside India are bound to think that Subramanian was privy to an “insider’s information” that could impact investors’ confidence. This will also discourage talented “outsiders” to join the government.

National monetary authorities should wake up to the Libra challenge

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha | Member of the academic board of Meghnad Desai Academy of Economics
Mint

Niranjan Rajadhyaksha writes on Facebook’s plans for a new digital currency that has raised “hackles worldwide”. He points out that this Facebook currency will be linked to official financial systems in two ways – through banks and currencies issued by sovereign governments.

“This is quite different from the libertarian promise of Bitcoin that sought to build a monetary unit with no formal links to fiat money”, he wrote.

He points out that the bigger question is whether “governments will, or even should, allow private companies to muscle into such sovereign territory” and adds that the challenge is more acute for an emerging economy like India.

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