AGRI-INNOVATION The wonder climber for areca nut trees A new mechanical device that makes areca nut harvesting less labour-intensive and hence affordable could solve one of the major problems faced by farmers of the crop. Shrikrishna D reports. Agriculture | Livelihoods September 2013 THE ECONOMY Our cheese has moved, and only we must find it The drying up of the dollar and the resultant plummet of the rupee reflects on the government's flawed economic strategy. Shyam Sekhar draws upon the famous business fable Who Moved My Cheese? to show the kind of behaviour and actions that could resolve the crisis now. Trade September 2013 SEN-BHAGWATI DEBATE Irreconcilable differences : The Right-Left Divide The recent clash between two eminent economists of our times, Amartya Sen and Jagadish Bhagwati, appears to be centred around the Food Security Bill. Shankar Jaganathan provides a historical context to show why their contradictions extend farto a clash between two schools of economics itself. Public Funds | Opinions August 2013 OPINION Professional or mercenary? The relationship between professionals and the society they serve is increasingly and radically changing. The reasons may go deeper than the obvious mercenary tendencies of the former. Shankar Jaganathan ruminates. Society | Opinion April 2013 GREEN TRANSPORT A bumpy road ahead for electric vehicles While they represent an important technology option, large scale adoption of electric vehicles aided by government policy might remain a pipe dream till cost structures become more competitive. Shiva Prasad Susarla explains. Transport March 2013 COST OF DEVELOPMENT Industrial corridors: Boon or bane? The proposal to create two industrial corridors around Bangalore has generated heady excitement, but this needs to be tempered with rationalism and transparency around water and land acquisition, says B S Nagaraj. Opinions | Karnataka March 2013 SPECIAL: BOOK REVIEW Why ants didn't win the Nobel prize With numerous arguments and anecdotes, Shankar Jaganathan traces how economics emerged from being a relatively obscure field to a structured discipline that may be used to explain the basis for every aspect of human life and society. Satarupa Bhattacharya reviews The Wisdom of Ants. Books January 2013 OUTWARD INVESTMENTS FDI in reverse It is far from clear if capital exports out of India are good for India. What is apparent, from their enthusiasm, is that Indian companies believe it is good for them. Kannan Kasturi reports. Trade December 2012 INTEGRATED SERVICES In praise of transfers Transfer-based bus networks can result in services that provide significantly higher quality and coverage. And many complaints that users have can actually be solved by moving to a more intensively transfer-based system itself. Transport December 2012 RETAIL SECTOR FDI: Just the facts, please Whether foreign direct invesmtent in retail in India is good or bad should be judged by a reasoned debate based on facts, not hyperbole and exaggeration. Jacob John reports. Consumers | Trade November 2012 INFRASTRUCTURE Public private prank It is a sign of trouble when experienced players sit out and fly-by-night-type operators take control. In the case of public infrastructure, this is exactly what is happening. We should ask why, writes Sunita Narain. Public funds October 2012