Kiran Karnik

The author is an independent policy and strategy analyst, and alumnus of IIM Ahmedabad

Latest Articles By Kiran Karnik

Time That Trust Triumphed

Kiran Karnik

Trust is a two-way street. Both institutions and people need to act with this in mind, and enhance India’s USP: its social

We need a more responsive and decentralised form of urban governance, with sufficient financial and talent resources. Only then might cities focus attention, funds and effort on improving walkability. Well-paved footpaths, with trees for shade, good lighting, safe (controlled) pedestrian crossings: these are the minimal necessities that city administrations must ensure

Business Or Management

Kiran Karnik

Education And Career B-Schools

Flexibility in pedagogy, admissions, academic and financial matters have been important in creating world-class institutions

Tips, Bribes and Freebies

Kiran Karnik

Opinion Columns

As you consider whether to leave a tip or pay a voluntary service charge in a restaurant, do ponder over whether it is a social welfare or a freebie. Who decides what is an “undesirable freebie” and when does it transform into social welfare? In a democracy, is this not best left to the voter?

Kiran’s Kontrarian Korner: Time Travel

Kiran Karnik

Opinion

A two-dimensional view may convince you that an object is round, whereas someone with a 3D view will insist it is cylindrical. If you add a time dimension, a person going back further will insist it is various mineral ores and not a shaped object. The James Webb Space Telescope shows us formed stars and galaxies. As it looks further back in time, we see them being formed, and even further back may show only gases. Beyond that, we can only speculate!

Kiran’s Kontrarian Korner: Accounting For Good

Kiran Karnik

Opinion Columns

There is scope and need for one more set of accounts. This needs to be a comprehensive look at the totality of a company’s operations from the viewpoints of sustainability, employee practices, consumer fairness and community impact. It would look at not only how the company produces its product, but the fairness of sourcing at the input side. Factors like the environmental damage caused in sourcing raw material and the pollution resulting from the manufacturing process would need to be accounted for

Rural Romance, City Chaos

Kiran Karnik

Opinion Columns

Progressive change could reduce migration, relieving pressure on the cities; importantly, it will also contribute to social justice and nation-building. Here is a challenge worth taking up

Old Times And New

Kiran Karnik

Economy

There are many self-declaredly enlightened companies, which claim to have greater equity between all levels of employees and all genders

Dressing Up and Dressing Down

Kiran Karnik

Opinion Columns

All this controversy over uniforms, hijab and the like could possibly be ended by a “one country, one dress” formula. Will someone please take this up?

The Gains Of War

Kiran Karnik

Opinion Columns

The biggest beneficiary, economically and politically, is certainly the US. Another big winner is President Zelensky: his carefully cultivated image has transformed him into a brave, leading-from-the-front, global hero, burying his pre-war sinking popularity. In the linguistic arena, the big gainer is the phrase “rules-based international order”