It’s not exactly a New Year Resolution since I don’t believe in them. But I do intend to explore more on brands and brand-building in 2026, including mainly their connection and relationship with companies and with corporate brands. I have spent the past couple of decades thinking and working on brands – if only on… Continue reading 2026 The Year of Exploring Brands’ Corporate Connections
As we conclude 2025, during which my blog at least celebrated 25 years of the 21st century through innovations, it is time to cast our mind to the new year and what it might bring. 2025 will be remembered as the year that unleashed a tariff and trade war between the US and almost every… Continue reading The Economic Effects of Far-Right Politics, Ten Years On
Through all the confusion and chaos wreaked on the global economy with US tariffs and the wars still raging, one subject that missed global attention in 2025 is climate change. The fact that the COP30 Summit was held in November 2025 should have helped matters and concentrated minds, but apparently it was a disappointing conference.… Continue reading Why COP30 Copped Out on Fossil Fuels
I have been writing on the travails of the advertising industry on my blog for the past couple of years at least. These are based on my observations from the outside, since my career in advertising in India was wrecked over two decades ago by unprofessional organisations. These problems have now reached an existential crisis… Continue reading How the Advertising Industry Can Reinvent Itself
The year is ending with Trump doing a whistle-stop tour of several Asian countries – Southeast Asian and East Asian this time – signing several trade agreements along the way. Of course, the highlight at the ASEAN conference in Malaysia was the peace agreement between Cambodia and Thailand, one of Trump’s many showpiece peace treaties… Continue reading Asia Becoming Theatre of US-China Competition
It’s almost 20 years since I left New Delhi for my aged parents’ home in Chicalim, Vasco, Goa in October 2008. When I watch scenes of the smog-filled air in Delhi-NCR play out on English news channels at this time of the year, year after year, I count myself lucky to not be living or… Continue reading Time Indian Cities Promoted Metro Rail Travel
Sounds like a crazy statement to make about the world’s largest trading bloc, comprising 400 million people, you may think. But not if you consider the EU’s own aspirations and ambitions, captured in Mario Draghi’s voluminous report. The EU’s own predicament faced with the raging Ukranian conflict with Russia on the one hand, and with… Continue reading The EU Needs to Look Beyond Trade for Growth
It was too good to be true. China’s economic growth powered by its exports sector delivered annual rates of real growth between 10% and 14% for years together in the 1980s and 1990s. Something the world watched with awe and admiration, as the Middle Kingdom surged to become the world’s second largest economy in GDP… Continue reading Are the Chickens of China’s State Capitalism Coming Home to Roost?
What a remarkable turn of events in the Middle East this past week. From constant shelling and the killing of innocent civilians – many even as they lined up for food – to the cessation of hostilities and the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners. So far, so good. At least as far as… Continue reading A Peace Plan That Leaves the Palestinian State for The End
It was long overdue. In fact, GST should have been launched in 2017 with no more than a couple of slabs. Ideally, it should have been just one at 18%. But in a country like ours where most of the population can barely afford even the daily essentials, perhaps a rate of 5% on some… Continue reading How Car Companies Should Make the Most of GST Rationalisation
Peripatetic Perch 