7th October 2010
A preliminary talk – for comment
Bhuvan Singh has been planning a video series on FTI. A few weeks ago I recorded myself as a trial. The result – without script and any preparation – is provided below.
I rarely speak Hindi now so I was startled while speaking that I couldn't precisely pin down basic Hindi words that I'm otherwise very comfortable with. In any event, for technical reasons (poor placement of image inside the frame) this trial video was found unsuitable for the formal FTI series, so I'm putting it out here on my blog for comment. I seek your comments/ thoughts on this recording, which I'll consider while recording the next time (the result of which would hopefully be suitable for editing and use by Bhuvan).
Note that for technical reasons that I don't understand, the aspect ratio in this video is distorted and my face elongated. I'm not so thin! Also note that this is a half-hour video and will consume 100 MB of bandwidth.
Dr.Sabhlok, Watched the full video. I'd like to see a bit more expansion on your ideas of freedom, because that is your core message. What is it anyway , and how can it fix things like corruption. A short "elevator pitch" on freedom, if you will.
I can think of things like:
Right to own property.
Equality of opportunity, not equality of results
Equality of means, not equality of ends
constructive competition. Each one gets their talents worth in the marketplace.
no entitlements
incentive structure
lesser regulation and redtape
state getting out of sectors where there is no business for state to be involved (postal, airline etc)
Now, this is my understanding of what you mean by freedom (specifically, economic freedom). Maybe you have a broader idea of freedom. I'd like to hear about that. And how all this can ultimately reduce corruption (said another way, how not doing all this , is the cause of corruption).
How your ideas of freedom are different (if any) from liberalization that started in 92. Or is it liberalization speeded up, and taken to grand finale ?
Dear Chaitanya
Thanks for these suggestions.
Re: what freedom means, you’ve got it broadly right in terms of implications. The details of what it might mean are in BFN – including how corruption can be almost entirely eliminated.
The forced 1991 liberalisation of India by IMF was definitely a step in the right direction, and we are reaping its rewards in many fields today. However, it was not accompanied by NUMEROUS other reforms including governance reforms. Hence India still underperforms compared to its potential.
Regards
Sanjeev