Google+

Socrates at the polling booth: Freebies, redistribution, and elections in India

Socrates at the polling booth: Freebies, redistribution, and elections in India

Socrates cautioned that uninformed voting could lead to the election of manipulative leaders, emphasizing the necessity of education and critical thinking for effective democratic participation. In modern democracies like India, political strategies often involve offering "freebies" – subsidies, loan waivers, and direct cash transfers – to economically disadvantaged groups. While these initiatives can reduce income disparities, they also raise concerns about political manipulation and long-term economic viability. This blog delves into theoretical and empirical models that explain voter behavior in response to such incentives and considers the broader implications of redistribution policies.

Contesting the Fourth Pillar of Democracy: Insights from Mahakumbh 2025 and Ranveer Allahbadia’s comments

Contesting the Fourth Pillar of Democracy: Insights from Mahakumbh 2025 and Ranveer Allahbadia’s comments

The role of media as a critical watchdog is both expected in a democracy and is often scrutinized - its priorities are frequently shaped by political and commercial interests. This article examines two recent events—the coverage of the challenges with Mahakumbh 2025 and the controversy surrounding Ranveer Allahbadia’s remarks to explore how selective outrage and media biases impact the perception of news media in serving as the fourth pillar of democracy.