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Showing posts with the label left-liberal ecosystem

Decision Making as Output and Bounded Rationality

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  The classical economics theories proceed on the assumption of rational agents. Rationality implies the economic agents undertake actions or exercise choices based on the cost-benefit analysis they undertake. The assumption further posits that there exists no information asymmetry and thus the agent is aware of all the costs and benefits associated with the choice he or she has exercised. The behavioral school contested the decision stating the decisions in practice are often irrational. Implied there is a continuous departure from rationality. Rationality in the views of the behavioral school is more an exception to the norm rather a rule. The past posts have discussed the limitations of this view by the behavioral school. Economics has often posited rationality in the context in which the choices are exercised rather than theoretical abstract view of rational action. Rational action in theory seems to be grounded in zero restraint situation yet in practice, there are numerous restra
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Minister's English and the Indian Elite

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  The reshuffle in the Modi cabinet has led to quite a few new ministers taking charge of new departments. A closely watched department in the current backdrop was the Ministry of Health hitherto headed by Dr. Harshvardhan who was dropped from the Cabinet. He was replaced by Mansukh Mandaviya who found himself promoted from the Minster of State rank to the Cabinet rank. The limousine liberals who are more than eager to find flaws dug up an old tweet of Mandaviya on Gandhi and used this to begin mocking the English of the Minister. It is possible that the Minister is not well versed in English with perhaps his studies being in Gujarati. The language of English might hardly matter in his work but the fact he cannot speak English is a reason good enough to be mocked at and be questioned about the fitness to be a minister.   This brings to the fore the question whether the language becomes critical in terms of being a minister at the centre or the states. In more precise terms, it is t
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Of Freedom of Expression and Ripper Jeans

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  The freedom of expression is a sine qua non in a democracy would be an understatement. It is not just important to have your say but allow the right to disagree without recourse to violence. There are myriad points of view and it is the societal welfare that would be best served when these points of view are allowed to be expressed without fear. Natan Sharansky, a conservative thinker once proposed a town square test. It implied the real freedom would exist when someone could go into the town square and express his or her views without fearing for their life or liberty. India has recognized the freedom of speech as an integral part of the constitution by enshrining it among the fundamental rights. The courts too have upheld the right to free speech and expression many a times in their judgments. Yet, what has not gone unnoticed is the right of free expression is selectively applied. Perhaps it is only one ideology that seems to have a monopoly over free expression. This again has bee
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