He makes economists appear interesting

The Chief Economic Advisor’s latest book demonstrates a versatile intellect.

One has always marvelled at Kaushik’s ability to get an idea across, however complicated it might be. This lucidity of exposition is evident not only in his conversations with others, but also in his writings regardless of their degree of technicality. It is, therefore, not surprising that this book is an easy read. It is a collection of his various columns on current economic topics, some musings, two translated short stories, a play and what he describes as a board game. Clearly, only those people who are very confident of their writing ability will put together such a collection. Kaushik has been able to do so simply because he writes well and chooses discussion topics that are very different from the run-of-the-mill fiscal and monetary policy writings that seem to have taken over the op-ed pages of newspapers. So, he is also different and, hence, worth reading. The only piece I would have left out is the one on China and India — it is too long for such a book and everybody has an angle on China. Other than this, it is a refreshing book and can be read from cover to cover.

He starts with a prologue explaining why he decided to stop writing in the public space after he joined the ministry of finance. Instead of writing new columns, he decided to put together his already published pieces into a collection. Many people re-publish their columns in books. I do not like reading them for two reasons. One, columns are interesting because they are topical. Reading them a year or two later makes them out-of-date. Two, economists choose pieces that may be well written but are, after all, on economics. Imagine reading 39 pieces on various aspects of economics. Kaushik’s collection is a refreshing mix of varied topics, very few of which deal with economics. Even the ones that do are not written for economists but for anyone who is willing to spend some time thinking about what affects his daily existence. And many of his other pieces are gems; interesting anecdotes that one can remember and smile to oneself about.

The portions I liked best are his non-literary pieces. His ending of the story on Prashant Patnaik is hilarious; his piece on Amartya Sen re-inventing himself is insightful and an extremely useful pointer to all researchers. His experiences among the Zapotec Indians and in Israel are stories of everyday people in faraway lands leading their daily lives in ways we will find difficult to comprehend. But the clarity with which he writes makes the reader feel that his experiences and thoughts are actually ours. He does not get philosophical but recounts what he sees without embellishment; it is as if we are seeing them through his eyes.

He finishes off with a play. He writes about the deep influences various playwrights have had on him before beginning his own. This is a long introduction, though shorter than what Shaw would have written, and perhaps that is why he does not mention his name as someone who has influenced him in any way. His play is interesting; his characters are indeed normal people as he warns they will be. The only problem I had is the amount of romantic interest the good professor of philosophy seemed to have attracted in his life. This is very unusual; most researchers believe they are making a terrific impression on their girl-students but seldom have male teachers realised their romance with their students. And then to find a modest colleague infatuated with him — that too when there are at least three others who seem to be attracted to her! While the other characters are probable people, the good philosopher is certainly a fantasy.

Kaushik’s is an intellectual mind that exercises itself in many ways. He is interested and thoughtful about many things, as many intellectuals are. But most of them talk in a manner that only other intellectuals can understand. Few intellectuals can think aloud, and that too in a lucid fashion. Kaushik has managed to do just that; so much so that he has made economists appear interesting.

The author is research director, India Development Foundation

AN ECONOMIST’S MISCELLANY
Author: Kaushik Basu
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Pages: 240
Price: Rs 395