Comments on: The Third Wave Of The Middle Class

By: Nilu

Nilu — Sat, 10 Sep 2005 16:47:28 +0000

axe - in case you are looking for something that does meet your strict standards, I suggest you look elsewhere and not to the Indian Economy Blog or Indian Express.

Nandan is not an econmist and is writing an article to put forward an opiion in what is aptly titled op-ed. If you have disagreements, air them. But if you are accusing Nandan of having an opinion in an op-ed column, the joke is on you.

By: Prashant Kothari

Prashant Kothari — Sun, 04 Sep 2005 04:21:50 +0000

Agree with Nilekani’s broad theses

a) India’s retail sector offers tremendous scope for improvement
b) Foreign investment will be a catalyst therein
c) This will bring about some much-needed changes in agriculture and the retail/ food supply chain

However, the article is poorly written and organized. Reads like one of those puff pieces that the chest-thumping triumphalist desis bring out, touting India’s emergence as a knowledge superpower (sic). As axe noted above, it’s got non-sequiturs galore. The 100% FDI issue only comes up in the last sentence, and doesn’t seem to have any relevance to the rest of the article. A bit of a googly there. And why on earth is 100% FDI essential — won’t a majority suffice?

These may be quibbles — as I said earlier, agree with Nilekani’s broad points. Still, think his arguments can be a lot tighter.

By: kuffir

kuffir — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 08:03:17 +0000

axe: we have to launch the rockets because we don’t need them at home. in fact we have to launch them all because i don’t think we have the option now of thinking through(in our ponderingly indian fashion) where to land them. they seem to clutter the little mindspace we exercise in making what we call ‘policy’. the agenda should be not to make any.

By: Walker

Walker — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 03:57:49 +0000

How is the Indian retail sector connected to exports going to the “consumers of the world”?

Wal-Mart might be more willing to server as an export conduit for Indian manufacturers if it is given a piece of the the Indian retail market.

By: axe

axe — Sat, 03 Sep 2005 00:47:46 +0000

This article is an example of “Let’s launch the rockets! (They may land where we intended)”

And, who knows[emphasis is mine], like in the software, the telecom and the
airline industry, the ultimate winners may not be the foreign companies but our own homegrown
entrepreneurs

How could we be more unscientific in defining future policy? Mind you I have nothing
in principle against lowering barriers to entry, but let’s not nod our heads waiting for the
next reason. More of the same:

Surprisingly, rather than the much touted technology companies from the West,
it was a set of indigenous companies who soon took the leadership position

In any case, the article ends with a non sequitur punchline, which I hope someone will care to
explain:

The only way not to let them down is to create the supply chain pipes that will connect
our farms and factories to the consumers of the world. For that we need 100 per cent foreign direct
investment in the Indian retail sector.

How is the Indian retail sector connected to exports going to the “consumers of the world”?
Also, in playing devil’s advocate, why 100%, why won’t a majority do?

By: kuffir

kuffir — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 05:00:58 +0000

thanks for the link. mr.nilekani’s optimism on fdi in retail trade meeting all acceptance standards seems to ignore the tremendous inventiveness of the left in thinking up roadblocks. well, anyway,
i’m glad that one of our brightest entrepreneurs has managed to bring such clarity to the issue. we should be thankful to him for pointing out the next roadmap.