Comments on: Zen and the Art of Development http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/ Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:02:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: The Zen of Development « World is Green http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-144015 The Zen of Development « World is Green Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:11:36 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-144015 [...] - Atanu Dey [...] [...] – Atanu Dey [...]

]]> By: kurian http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-112339 kurian Wed, 28 Nov 2007 06:54:26 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-112339 Governement collects taxes in the name of helping the society(read helping the poor and backward).If they start making laws that really help the poor people then one day there wont be any to BPL to help.In whose name will the government collect taxes then? Governement collects taxes in the name of helping the society(read helping the poor and backward).If they start making laws that really help the poor people then one day there wont be any to BPL to help.In whose name will the government collect taxes then?

]]> By: How much time does it take to sort N numbers? http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-111477 How much time does it take to sort N numbers? Mon, 12 Nov 2007 05:50:10 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-111477 [...] Zen and the art of development [...] [...] Zen and the art of development [...]

]]> By: RJ http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-69500 RJ Wed, 17 Jan 2007 12:01:01 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-69500 One Pro poor policy that brought benefits was the mid day meal scheme for school children in Tamil Nadu. But yeah, given that we have been removing poverty for sixty years, just one scheme does not in way lessen the vaildity of your question One Pro poor policy that brought benefits was the mid day meal scheme for school children in Tamil Nadu. But yeah, given that we have been removing poverty for sixty years, just one scheme does not in way lessen the vaildity of your question

]]> By: haha http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-65160 haha Thu, 11 Jan 2007 06:04:52 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-65160 Dude i like your way of linking IITs realcost being really hidden under those taxes that all of the producers and consumers of every thing from tea to sugar have paid.... Chandra I dont see Aids as a big problem worldwide. Lets face it its only the stupid people in most countries who have got it, the burning itch of gonnorhea, the dangers of swapping bloody needles have been known for generations even in villages.... if you were to measure the net economic outcome that such folks could ever generate it would have been negligible. Gates did the right thing by not focusing on drugs that will give a marginal 5 year extension that too if the person does not die of malnutrition or TB or dengue fever. They focused on education and prevention. It is more economical solution. The chinese did get one thing right(which was their solution to aids, ps it was related to arsenic) Dude
i like your way of linking IITs realcost being really hidden under those taxes that all of the producers and consumers of every thing from tea to sugar have paid….

Chandra
I dont see Aids as a big problem worldwide.
Lets face it its only the stupid people in most countries who have got it, the burning itch of gonnorhea, the dangers of swapping bloody needles have been known for generations even in villages….
if you were to measure the net economic outcome that such folks could ever generate it would have been negligible.
Gates did the right thing by not focusing on drugs that will give a marginal 5 year extension that too if the person does not die of malnutrition or TB or dengue fever.
They focused on education and prevention.
It is more economical solution.
The chinese did get one thing right(which was their solution to aids, ps it was related to arsenic)

]]> By: Chandra http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-64282 Chandra Wed, 10 Jan 2007 07:12:45 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-64282 Another example: One reason why drugs are available for diseases in rich countries follow this line of thinking. Far more money is, and has been, spend on AIDS, which at least started out as disease in rich countries, rather than malaria which still struggles for vaccine – now, at least Gates foundation wants to something about it. If AIDS was a purely poor man's/countries disease, I doubt there would be generic Indian drug makers supplying at cost to Africa and Asian nations. Another example: One reason why drugs are available for diseases in rich countries follow this line of thinking. Far more money is, and has been, spend on AIDS, which at least started out as disease in rich countries, rather than malaria which still struggles for vaccine – now, at least Gates foundation wants to something about it.

If AIDS was a purely poor man’s/countries disease, I doubt there would be generic Indian drug makers supplying at cost to Africa and Asian nations.

]]> By: Ashish Asgekar http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-63181 Ashish Asgekar Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:22:37 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-63181 usually, in India, we do not levy full price of education from students. i paid just about 1500 per year for MSc, which was miserable, and did not make realise the value of it at that time (so i bunked classes and made a fool of myself). not to mention, that University lacks funds to buy any equipments and hire good profs. too much govertnment regulation on hiring-firing policy and pricing of degrees. on the other hand, look at Bharati Vidyapeeth, a private university. (so called) Dr Kadam made tons of money and touts best facilities on campus within 10 years. till we allow market prices to justify themselves and government to fool around in policy making, this trend would continue. how about some PIL regarding this? -- ashish usually, in India, we do not levy full price of education from students. i paid just about 1500 per year for MSc, which was miserable, and did not make realise the value of it at that time (so i bunked classes and made a fool of myself). not to mention, that University lacks funds to buy any equipments and hire good profs. too much govertnment regulation on hiring-firing policy and pricing of degrees.

on the other hand, look at Bharati Vidyapeeth, a private university. (so called) Dr Kadam made tons of money and touts best facilities on campus within 10 years.

till we allow market prices to justify themselves and government to fool around in policy making, this trend would continue. how about some PIL regarding this?

– ashish

]]> By: Ashish Asgekar http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-63175 Ashish Asgekar Mon, 08 Jan 2007 10:16:42 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-63175 Hi Atanu, the more i read, the more i get convinved about your idea. the other day, i opened a vast array of web-links related to education sources. indeed, there is much on the web to be ported and used in class-rooms as it is. -- ashish Hi Atanu,
the more i read, the more i get convinved about your idea. the other day, i opened a vast array of web-links related to education sources. indeed, there is much on the web to be ported and used in class-rooms as it is.
— ashish

]]> By: India » Blog Archive » Funny story about visitors in India finding parts as extras in … http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-63147 India » Blog Archive » Funny story about visitors in India finding parts as extras in … Mon, 08 Jan 2007 09:04:32 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-63147 [...] free market place where there will be competition, … – more – CNN - HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) — Pol [...] [...] free market place where there will be competition, … – more – CNN – HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) — Pol [...]

]]> By: Saurabh Nanda http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-63036 Saurabh Nanda Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:16:17 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-63036 Sorry... you do highlight the case of absence of comepetition. I jumped to post a comment. So patents are a very common way of avoiding competition. There. Sorry… you do highlight the case of absence of comepetition. I jumped to post a comment. So patents are a very common way of avoiding competition. There.

]]> By: Saurabh Nanda http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-63034 Saurabh Nanda Mon, 08 Jan 2007 04:13:06 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-63034 The technology argument sort of breaks down as soon as you bring in patents into the picture. Here's how... The argument is based on the fact that the technology will be released in a free market place where there will be competition, and over a reasonable period of time it will bring down the price of the product. But as soon as you bring patents into the picture, the first company gets a monopoly for 20 goddamn years! Bye, bye to the rest of the argument! The technology argument sort of breaks down as soon as you bring in patents into the picture. Here’s how…

The argument is based on the fact that the technology will be released in a free market place where there will be competition, and over a reasonable period of time it will bring down the price of the product. But as soon as you bring patents into the picture, the first company gets a monopoly for 20 goddamn years! Bye, bye to the rest of the argument!

]]> By: DesiPundit » Archives » Zen And The Art Of Development http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-62662 DesiPundit » Archives » Zen And The Art Of Development Sun, 07 Jan 2007 20:35:56 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-62662 [...] es to reflect low average costs. In an excellent post, Atanu argues that to help the poor, investments must be made in technologies which (initially) benefit only the rich [...] [...] es to reflect low average costs. In an excellent post, Atanu argues that to help the poor, investments must be made in technologies which (initially) benefit only the rich [...]

]]> By: triya http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/comment-page-1/#comment-62293 triya Sun, 07 Jan 2007 12:09:37 +0000 http://www.deeshaa.org/2007/01/06/zen-and-the-art-of-development/#comment-62293 The standard economic argument for regulated monopolies is that they would be priced at the average cost and not the point where marginal cost equals marginal revenue (which would be a higher price). With governments regulating them, the price does not reflect the full costs. Isn't the argument the other way around, i.e, regulation forces a monopoly to price so low that they do not have the required incentive to produce efficiently or invest in better products and new technology. The reason prices fall as average costs go down is because of threat of entry for a monopolist. If the market is contestible, and prices are high despite low average costs, then a competitor can take advantage of the lower average costs, price slightly lower than the incumbent and take the whole market as his share. I think the key to any good technology development is for it to be priced economically(based on sound economics), and for that, like you rightly mention Atanu, there needs to be competition in the market. The standard economic argument for regulated monopolies is that they would be priced at the average cost and not the point where marginal cost equals marginal revenue (which would be a higher price). With governments regulating them, the price does not reflect the full costs. Isn’t the argument the other way around, i.e, regulation forces a monopoly to price so low that they do not have the required incentive to produce efficiently or invest in better products and new technology.
The reason prices fall as average costs go down is because of threat of entry for a monopolist. If the market is contestible, and prices are high despite low average costs, then a competitor can take advantage of the lower average costs, price slightly lower than the incumbent and take the whole market as his share.
I think the key to any good technology development is for it to be priced economically(based on sound economics), and for that, like you rightly mention Atanu, there needs to be competition in the market.

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