Columnists

Neelkanth Mishra

The writer is co-head of Asia Pacific Strategy and India Strategist for Credit Suisse.

Don’t rush into export ‘opportunity’ presented by Russia-Ukraine conflict

Thu, Apr 21, 2022

Devesh Roy and Neelkanth Mishra write: India’s prospects for sustained wheat exports are limited. The surplus stocks are a fraction of the quantity exported annually by Russia and Ukraine.

Budget reveals a new fiscal situation

Wed, Feb 02, 2022

Neelkanth Mishra writes: Government now has more funds than it can allocate

Is India’s current investor rush too much of a good thing?

Fri, Oct 15, 2021

Neelkanth Mishra writes: While there are certain risks, for now, the flow of funds is a welcome booster for an economy that is still recovering from the pandemic

What will India’s post-restriction economic output look like?

Thu, Jul 22, 2021

Neelkanth Mishra writes: It is likely to be much higher than currently expected, but still below the pre-pandemic path

What explains the high numbers of COVID cases in Delhi?

Wed, May 05, 2021

The surge in cases and deaths might be a result of patient migration from surrounding districts. A revamp of rural healthcare system is urgent.

New buyers for government bonds needed to bring down borrowing cost

Tue, Apr 06, 2021

Tapping foreign savings is one step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to make the economy conducive to post-pandemic recovery.

Govt is carefully supporting industrial and consumer sentiment to take economy back to pre-pandemic path

Tue, Feb 02, 2021

Despite being acutely aware of the plight of the urban poor, given the lack of efficient channels to provide direct help, the government is relying on boosting economic growth, which can then create opportunities for them.

An Expert Explains: What to look for in Union Budget 2021

Sat, Jan 30, 2021

On February1, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present what could turn out to be India's most consequential Budget in years. What is the status of the post-Covid recovery process, and what are the concerns going forward? What should you look for in the Budget – and what should the Budget be looking at?

A calibrated package: Govt’s restraint in spending is commendable

Sat, Nov 14, 2020

One must appreciate the restraint in “spending other people’s money”, a tendency most regimes find hard to resist. But it is equally important that nominal GDP growth picks up strongly.

New MPC’s unambiguous messaging on inflation should help buyers of government bonds take the risk

Mon, Oct 12, 2020

The economic scars of the last six months are likely to take time to heal, the financial system still needs a major overhaul, and the only permanent solution to the large BoP surplus is stronger domestic demand, which will take time, and is best achieved through a well-designed fiscal stimulus.

An Expert Explains: Decoding India’s GDP contraction by 23.9%

Sun, Sep 13, 2020

The contraction seen in first-quarter GDP data is severe, but not unexpected. What should be done — or not done – at the level of govt policy so that the economy gets a chance to rebound as quickly as possible?

Geographical spread of virus poses new policy challenges

Wed, Jul 29, 2020

As private investment and consumption settle at far lower levels than earlier anticipated, the government’s role in the economy over the next two years or so would need to be much larger than it has been in the last three decades.

Fund for MSMEs will ease credit, but govt may have to scale up support in coming months

Fri, May 15, 2020

We believe a continued focus on reforms and on sustaining India’s growth potential will be critical in preventing macroeconomic instability.

First stimulus by Centre targets poor, later announcements should keep the financial system running

Sat, Mar 28, 2020

Some observers are also concerned about what high deficits would do to India’s credit ratings. It remains to be seen how agencies respond to globally large fiscal deficits monetised by central banks; India may not be an outlier here.

FM tried to address issues facing the economy. But state and municipal budgets are equally critical

Thu, Feb 06, 2020

With central reforms increasingly announced outside budget speeches, and both revenue and expenditures starting to become predictable, it might be more productive for public attention to move to other areas of government functioning like state and municipal budgets.