On July 22, Nayara Energy lost access to its Microsoft-hosted services. All without a warning. Why? Because a 49% Russian stake triggered EU sanctions, and Microsoft complied. India’s data may sit within its borders, but the kill switch still lies abroad. This is about national resilience, not just private businesses. What happens when foreign tech giants control critical infrastructure? What if it’s public sector next?
5 Public Policy problems in an Intangible Economy
I talk about the 5 public policy problems that will arise in an Intangible economy.
How Social Media Changed Politics
I analyze how social media has changed politics and political campaigns. I argue that while social media has enhanced the freedom of expression, it has also created ideological echo-chambers. I borrow ideas from Jonathan Haidt, Neil Postman and Richard Hanania to build my case.
The Medium is the Metaphor
I explore why writing is fundamentally different from the video-audio format. To this end, I borrow extensively from Neil Postman’s works, particularly, “Amusing Ourselves to Death”. I argue, with examples, why the medium is the metaphor.
Why Political Discourse Seems So Stupid
I talk about why the current political discourse seems so stupid. I borrow the following concepts to make my point: - Final Vocabulary - Purva Paksha - Ideological Turing Test - Pigeonholing
When is Government intervention in markets legitimate?
I discuss the grounds where it is legitimate for the Government to intervene in the markets.
Authenticity and Political Correctness in Business Communication
Should you publicly express an opinion that is at odds with the prevailing standards of political correctness? In this article, I seek answers to questions like: - If you self-censor on social media platforms, are you still being authentic? - Are you being authentic if you’re complying with what’s politically correct? - Is there no middle ground between authenticity and political correctness? If you ever held back from expressing an opinion online, this is for you.
The Tyranny of the Minority
Majority triumphs, they say. We must resist the tyranny of the majority, we’re told. But what if it’s a determined minority that actually calls the shots? Nassim Nicholas Taleb posits that an intransigent minority can almost always prevail over a flexible majority. His reasoning, though counterintuitive, is simple: “Someone with a peanut allergy will not... Continue Reading →
The Cost of Luxury Beliefs
Lately, I struggled to put a name to the phenomenon that I see in many elitist circles. These people are as conservative as it goes in their private life. Yet, they aggressively profess to stand by ‘enlightened’ beliefs in public. Imagine my delight when I saw that someone had coined a term, “luxury beliefs”, to... Continue Reading →
Education Never Ends
“Education never ends, Watson. It is a series of lessons, with the greatest for the last.” - Sherlock Holmes. In my college days, I used to flunk classes to visit the library. While the missed classes instantly reflected in poor grades, the knowledge gained at the library was of no immediate value. At the library,... Continue Reading →
Musings by Madhav 