Letters: Smart economics

This refers to the report "It'd be wrong to sell 800-MHz spectrum for a fraction of what can be realised: Rahul Khullar" (October 29). I am amazed by Rahul Khullar's point that there was potential to make a lot of money from the 800-MHz spectrum. It is time he and other decision-makers realised that smart economics is not maximising returns out of infrastructural offerings. Health, education, freight, communication, highways are all aspects in which the government should at best break-even - in most cases, should step in and subsidise. This is because all these constitute the foundation on which the rest of the edifice is built, thereby enabling the citizens to collectivise their energy to achieve progress. The Chinese understood this three decades ago and the shape of their economy is now the world's envy. It is also the best firm step towards social inclusion. Maximising profits in a monopoly structure does not really call for any creative thinking. Realising what support infrastructure building needs does.

Gopi Gopalakrishnan New Delhi

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