Skip to main content

Pranab Bardhan

Pranab Bardhan

12 commentaries

Pranab Bardhan, Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley, is the author, most recently, of A World of Insecurity: Democratic Disenchantment in Rich and Poor Countries (Harvard University Press, 2022).

Sort by: Show:
  1. The Popular Decimation of India’s Democracy
    bardhan12_ TAUSEEF MUSTAFAAFP via Getty Images_bjp TAUSEEF MUSTAFA/AFP via Getty Images

    The Popular Decimation of India’s Democracy

    May 3, 2024 Pranab Bardhan examines the shrewd tactics and false narratives that underpin broad support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

  2. Pranab Bardhan on India, China, universal basic income, and more
    GettyImages-1257780037

    Pranab Bardhan on India, China, universal basic income, and more

    Apr 11, 2023 Pranab Bardhan highlights the costs of India’s crony oligarchy, assess the sources of China’s economic resilience, makes the case for a UBI in low-income countries, and more.

  3. Unmasking India’s Crony Capitalist Oligarchy
    bardhan10_MONEY SHARMAAFP via Getty Images_adani MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images

    Unmasking India’s Crony Capitalist Oligarchy

    Feb 13, 2023 Pranab Bardhan explains how the allegations against billionaire Gautam Adani embody the flaws in India’s political economy.

  4. Organized Labor After COVID
    badhan9_Elijah NouvelageGetty Images_amazonunionprotest Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images

    Organized Labor After COVID

    May 3, 2021 Pranab Bardhan shows that while unions are adapting and making some gains, they still face major hurdles.

  5. Modi’s Performance and the Tragedy of India’s Poor
    bardhan8_Pallava BaglaCorbis via Getty Images_narendramodi Pallava Bagla/Corbis via Getty Images

    Modi’s Performance and the Tragedy of India’s Poor

    May 21, 2020 Pranab Bardhan argues that the government's pandemic response is following a script that is devastating the country's poor.

  1. vaheesan2_Michael M. SantiagoGetty Images_gigworkersprotest Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images

    The Gig Economy vs. America’s Workers

    Sandeep Vaheesan warns that proposed ballot initiatives in Massachusetts would legalize exploitative employment practices.
  2. sherwin13_CURTIS MEANSPOOLAFP via Getty Images_repubicans trump trial CURTIS MEANS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

    King Trump on Trial

    Richard K. Sherwin

    High-ranking Republican politicians have lately been turning up at Donald Trump’s New York City trial to demonstrate solidarity with the former president. But their attendance also serves a more alarming purpose: to validate Trump as a competing source of sovereign power, independent of the US Constitution and the rule of law.

    explains why a parade of Republican leaders have made appearances at the former president’s trial in New York.
  3. spence173_ Joe RaedleGetty Images_power Joe Raedle/Getty Images

    Crunch Time for the Power Sector

    Michael Spence argues that developing flexible, stable, and resilient smart grids requires an expanded industrial policy.
  4. op_janeway16_SAUL LOEBAFP via Getty Images_bidenchips Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

    The Rise of Mesoeconomics

    William H. Janeway

    A growing body of literature focusing on the domain between the microeconomic and the macroeconomic has become increasingly relevant in a world beset by supply shocks. Armed with such insights, those designing industrial policies will have a better chance of achieving their overlapping economic- and national-security goals.

    details how a long-neglected field of economic study can be applied to today's most pressing policy challenges.
  5. strain27_Philipp von Ditfurthpicture alliance via Getty Images_AIeducation Philipp von Ditfurth/picture alliance via Getty Images

    What the AI Pessimists Are Missing

    Michael R. Strain points out that the technology will help to address many of the risks it creates.
  6. ito37_Spencer PlattGetty Images_columbiaprotests Spencer Platt/Getty Images

    The Innocent Bystanders of College Protests

    Takatoshi Ito laments that a radical minority can disrupt the lives of so many in the broader university community.
  7. lacamera1_Wang DongzhenXinhua via Getty Images_COP28 Wang Dongzhen/Xinhua via Getty Images

    Only Public-Private Cooperation Can Accelerate Decarbonization

    Francesco La Camera & Bruce Douglas explain how to translate political commitments into actual wind turbines and solar panels.
  8. haass167_ANATOLII STEPANOVAFP via Getty Images_ukrainesoldiers Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images

    Defining Success in Ukraine

    Richard Haass calls for a shift to a defensive posture and efforts to bring about a long-term ceasefire.
  9. aslund75_Pierre CromGetty Images_ukraineconflict Pierre Crom/Getty Images

    A Unified Western Strategy for Ukraine

    Anders Åslund proposes a maximalist approach to military aid to replace the current piecemeal injections of old weapons.

Edit Newsletter Preferences

Set up Notification

To receive email updates regarding this {entity_type}, please enter your email below.

If you are not already registered, this will create a PS account for you. You should receive an activation email shortly.