A Regulator for Land Acquisition
Economic Times, January 28, 2013

By Pradeep S Mehta

The current land acquisition Bill talks about direct transaction between buyers and sellers of land. Given the fact that landholding patterns in India are largely fragmented, coupled with large-scale absentee landlordism, such direct transactions will be impossible as there will be huge transaction costs. The state has a legitimate role in land acquisition for industrial development and that should be done institutionally: as a facilitator through independent regulation against a control structure. The Bill on land acquisition should be revised accordingly to upfront say why states should have a role in it by incorporating provisions for the institution of an independent regulator for land acquisition. More...

Indo-Pak trade needs a push
Business Line, January 14, 2013

By Pradeep S Mehta, Abid Suleri and Joseph George

Trucks to Pakistan, at Attari -Wagah border near Amritsar...Trade can be enhanced in 65 per cent of the tariff lines, with Pakistan having moved to a negative list approach. Instead of waiting, non-state actors should reinforce governmental efforts with their own and take advantage of opportunities of improved commercial relations. The last two years have witnessed a number of promising developments on commercial relations between India and Pakistan. And they have to be nurtured, as against just crying over Pakistan’s decision to postpone the grant of the most-favoured-nation (MFN) status to trade with India. Recent developments show that Pakistan has provided de facto MFN status to India. The Indian establishment should look at it as a deferred success of its diplomatic efforts. More...

India gets the wrong end of trade deals
Business Standard, January 08, 2013

By Purna Chandra Jena

India’s trade competitiveness has declined in recent years, especially with those countries or regional entities with which it engages through preferential trade agreements (PTAs). Export and import data till September 2012 show that the country has not been able to reap optimal benefits from such arrangements. In fact, PTAs have facilitated more imports than exports for India – especially owing to low-tariff rates of partner countries – and show no signs of reduction. Given that most countries are moving towards bilateral or plurilateral agreements, India cannot afford to remain oblivious to this trend. Therefore, India needs to be more cautious in analysing its costs and benefits when signing such trade agreements in the future. More...