Comments on: Why Does India Have Such Terrible Politicians — 3 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/ Issues & insights Sun, 7 Sep 2008 17:55:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: kim http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-265217 kim Wed, 02 Apr 2008 19:58:03 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-265217 Second, subscribing wholly to Stigler’s viewpoint would suggest that “leaders” have no role to play; after all, everyone responds to incentives. While there is substantial truth in this - I remember Milton Friedman being asked “Professor Friedman, if you were in office would you carry out the policies you now espouse?” and him responding “No, because then I’d be a politician and not an economist.” - I also think there is a role for leadership and that leaders can make a difference. Check out the following entry on Dani Second, subscribing wholly to Stigler’s viewpoint would suggest that “leaders” have no role to play; after all, everyone responds to incentives. While there is substantial truth in this - I remember Milton Friedman being asked “Professor Friedman, if you were in office would you carry out the policies you now espouse?” and him responding “No, because then I’d be a politician and not an economist.” - I also think there is a role for leadership and that leaders can make a difference. Check out the following entry on Dani

]]> By: The Indian Economy Blog » Why Does India Have Such Terrible Politicans - 4 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-264437 The Indian Economy Blog » Why Does India Have Such Terrible Politicans - 4 Tue, 19 Feb 2008 04:27:57 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-264437 [...] Previous posts in this series: 1, 2 and 3. [...] [...] Previous posts in this series: 1, 2 and 3. [...]

]]> By: Prakash C http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262963 Prakash C Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:18:26 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262963 Stiglerian decay hopefully followed by a Naderian revolution and then stiglerian reformation that ratchet the administrative reforms in place. The decay of Indian polity was definitely stiglerian. The bureacratic system of governance with no right to information, etc. was a system that would have become very corrupt one time or another. However after years of decay and hopelessness, LEAD INDIA campaign, Lok Paritran and Loksatta parties are bringing in fresh hope for the public. These are going to be lead by the right people. That is a naderian revolution that i hope to see. The first things these people should do is to force reforms that will allow for good governance even when people wielding power are not the greatest. That is the stiglerian reformation. Stiglerian decay hopefully followed by a Naderian revolution and then stiglerian reformation that ratchet the administrative reforms in place.

The decay of Indian polity was definitely stiglerian. The bureacratic system of governance with no right to information, etc. was a system that would have become very corrupt one time or another.

However after years of decay and hopelessness, LEAD INDIA campaign, Lok Paritran and Loksatta parties are bringing in fresh hope for the public. These are going to be lead by the right people. That is a naderian revolution that i hope to see.

The first things these people should do is to force reforms that will allow for good governance even when people wielding power are not the greatest. That is the stiglerian reformation.

]]> By: Edsa http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262953 Edsa Wed, 12 Dec 2007 19:05:08 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262953 Why are ever ready to latch on to westerner proposals - whether Stigler, Nader or Friedman? Always waiting for foreigners to propose solutions. Have we no intellectual resources of our own that can provide solutions appropriate to India's political & economic system? No think tanks? The fact that criminals are eligible for election and have been voted in speaks volumes for the pathetic state of Indian democracy. India is clearly not ready for a western model of democracy - it must devise a type which is authoritarian and enforces discipline. But then India is neither inventive nor innovative. Why are ever ready to latch on to westerner proposals - whether Stigler, Nader or Friedman? Always waiting for foreigners to propose solutions.
Have we no intellectual resources of our own that can provide solutions appropriate to India’s political & economic system? No think tanks?

The fact that criminals are eligible for election and have been voted in speaks volumes for the pathetic state of Indian democracy.
India is clearly not ready for a western model of democracy - it must devise a type which is authoritarian and enforces discipline.
But then India is neither inventive nor innovative.

]]> By: Akhond of Swat http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262950 Akhond of Swat Wed, 12 Dec 2007 16:19:42 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262950 How come the Chinese leaders are doing such a splendid job? Are they Stiglerian or Naderian? How come the Chinese leaders are doing such a splendid job? Are they Stiglerian or Naderian?

]]> By: admin http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262916 admin Tue, 11 Dec 2007 04:53:29 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262916 Suresh Correction made. Thanks Suresh

Correction made. Thanks

]]> By: suresh http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262913 suresh Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:30:08 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262913 First, a typo: surely you meant *Naderian" and not *Nadlerian"? Second, subscribing wholly to Stigler's viewpoint would suggest that "leaders" have no role to play; after all, everyone responds to incentives. While there is substantial truth in this - I remember Milton Friedman being asked "Professor Friedman, if you were in office would you carry out the policies you now espouse?" and him responding "No, because then I'd be a politician and not an economist." - I also think there is a role for leadership and that leaders can make a difference. Check out the following entry on Dani Rodrik's weblog: http://rodrik.typepad.com/dani_rodriks_weblog/2007/08/leadership.html First, a typo: surely you meant *Naderian” and not *Nadlerian”?

Second, subscribing wholly to Stigler’s viewpoint would suggest that “leaders” have no role to play; after all, everyone responds to incentives. While there is substantial truth in this - I remember Milton Friedman being asked “Professor Friedman, if you were in office would you carry out the policies you now espouse?” and him responding “No, because then I’d be a politician and not an economist.” - I also think there is a role for leadership and that leaders can make a difference. Check out the following entry on Dani Rodrik’s weblog:

http://rodrik.typepad.com/dani_rodriks_weblog/2007/08/leadership.html

]]> By: Rajesh http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262912 Rajesh Mon, 10 Dec 2007 22:13:31 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262912 I don't believe that there can be such a simplistic explanation of corruption and how it is perpetrated. There is a compromise between these two extreme viewpoints - one which blames an external agency for the ethical premise of Indian politicians - and then there is the other extreme, which blames the very dynamics of the system of politics itself. We should remind ourselves that the policies which politicians have to work with have for some time now, been the result of considerable political brinksmanship, wherein, many of the changes were brought about with the elections around the corner. Many of the measures in the polity are themselves designed with aliter methods and loopholes which probably allow politicians to have a Plan B. It is not possible to concisely explain the problem of corruption. But there are ultimately deeper things like the set of values we inculcate in leaders and followers - these value systems being the background for what makes certain things appealing to a populace (which the politicians do) and what doesn't). I don’t believe that there can be such a simplistic explanation of corruption and how it is perpetrated. There is a compromise between these two extreme viewpoints - one which blames an external agency for the ethical premise of Indian politicians - and then there is the other extreme, which blames the very dynamics of the system of politics itself.

We should remind ourselves that the policies which politicians have to work with have for some time now, been the result of considerable political brinksmanship, wherein, many of the changes were brought about with the elections around the corner. Many of the measures in the polity are themselves designed with aliter methods and loopholes which probably allow politicians to have a Plan B.

It is not possible to concisely explain the problem of corruption. But there are ultimately deeper things like the set of values we inculcate in leaders and followers - these value systems being the background for what makes certain things appealing to a populace (which the politicians do) and what doesn’t).

]]> By: Prakash http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262904 Prakash Mon, 10 Dec 2007 16:09:38 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262904 A bit of both. We have politicians who have long criminal records and should not be contesting elections. But they get elected (somehow!). Then, the system lets them wield too much power and power corrupts even the saintly. I think the majority of the politicians at the federal level are fairly clean (thankfully) but at the local (municipality) level, a lot of them are absolutely corrupt. However, the politicians are not in office for ever. For some reason we blame them more than the beauraucrats. You look at the beauraucrats like panchayat officials, ministry clerks etc. These are the guys that run the system and keep the corruption going. A bit of both. We have politicians who have long criminal records and should not be contesting elections. But they get elected (somehow!). Then, the system lets them wield too much power and power corrupts even the saintly. I think the majority of the politicians at the federal level are fairly clean (thankfully) but at the local (municipality) level, a lot of them are absolutely corrupt. However, the politicians are not in office for ever. For some reason we blame them more than the beauraucrats. You look at the beauraucrats like panchayat officials, ministry clerks etc. These are the guys that run the system and keep the corruption going.

]]> By: India Economy http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262887 India Economy Sun, 09 Dec 2007 15:21:31 +0000 http://indianeconomy.org/2007/12/08/why-does-india-have-such-terrible-politicians-3/#comment-262887 I am definitely a Stiglerian and I think thats how Indian politics is governed. I think it is the Stiglerian perspective that explains why Indian infrastructure is in a mess. Politicians are jumping from one reform to the next, chasing incentives and forgetting about the long game. I am definitely a Stiglerian and I think thats how Indian politics is governed. I think it is the Stiglerian perspective that explains why Indian infrastructure is in a mess. Politicians are jumping from one reform to the next, chasing incentives and forgetting about the long game.

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