Future of Growth and Employment in the Global South: A Case Study of IBSA
Discussion Paper on Bridging Trust Deficit Enabling Ease of Running a Business in India
Capacity Building on Infrastructure Regulatory Issues (I and II edition)
Enabling Investment Climate for Energy Sources Focus on Sustainable Energy in Eastern and Southern Africa
Electricity is a fuel for economic development. However, several countries in Eastern and Southern Africa (ESA) are lagging far behind in meeting the minimum electricity requirements of its citizens. This Discussion Paper looks into sustainable models of electricity infrastructure development pattern in a few selected countries of ESA. The purpose is also
Multilateralisation of Sovereignty: Proposals for Multilateral Frameworks for Investment
Discussion Paper on Analysing effect of regulation of Over-the-Top (OTT) Services on consumer interest and comparing international perspectives
Revisiting the India-South Korea Economic Relation to Ensure a Deeper Cooperation
A New Negotiating Agenda-How India Could Address Issues of Sustainable Development in Trade Negotiations
India and many developing nations have maintained opposition to the development of enforceable norms on trade and sustainable development at the bilateral/regional or multilateral fora (WTO). However, new economic and political realities require India to reevaluate her stance. This paper will first discuss why India may have
Impact of Barriers on Cross-Border Data Flow on Ease of Doing Digital Business in India
Walking the Talk of Covid through Investment Policies
The paper looks into the historical shift from mid-2021 in foreign direct investment (FDI) and other investment policies in the host countries, considering the similarities and differences in light of COVID19. It argues that global adverse events lead to convergence in the investment policy response of the countries, for
Impact of Unnecessary Compliances Ease of Doing Digital Business in India
The Discussion Paper distinguishes between necessary and unnecessary compliances by using elements of the regulatory guillotine framework and expands upon the core principles of ‘legality’, ‘necessity’, and ‘business friendliness’. Further, the paper renews the discussion on unnecessary compliances, costs associated, and their impact on digital businesses. It concludes with
The Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Model of Workers’ Welfare
The ESG-centric approach combined with socially responsible investing is creating a paradigm shift for investors’ interest across the globe. CUTS International, through this Discussion Paper under ‘Institutionalising good and better jobs in India’ (GrowJobs-II), is building a narrative towards investors integrating social considerations into their strategic investments. The
Impact of Inadequate Digital Infrastructure on Ease of Doing Digital Business in India
The Discussion Paper unpacks the digitalinfrastructural constraints that hinder the digital economy’s growth and the digital business ecosystem. In its analysis, the paper goes beyond ‘connecting the unconnected’ framework, in the spirit that connectivity doesnot necessarily translate into positionality to use services and business opportunities
Prospects of Pumped Storage in Energy Transition
With the world gradually transitioning to clean energy, several challenging questions emerge, such as – whether or not we have modern technologies at our disposal. If indigenisation of such technologies can reduce cost, what are the alternatives, and who bears the brunt of this transition? Whether this transition to
Facilitating a Transition Away from Coal in India
The Indian government is currently trying to facilitate a shift from a conventional to an alternative energy base. However, while reducing our reliance on fossil fuels like coal, several challenging questions emerge: Who is bearing the brunt of this process that will inevitably induce structural shifts in the Indian economy? While
Discussion Paper on Impact of Regulatory Uncertainty on Ease of Doing Digital Business in India
Regulating the digital economy becomes tougher due to its cross-cutting nature, which causes regulatory overlaps. Further, the difficulty intensifies due to the lack of regulatory procedures. The Discussion Paper highlights several reasons that cause regulatory uncertainty for digital businesses, including lack of regulatory framework, excessive delay in enacting regulations,
Discussion Paper on Impact of Criminalising Provisions on Ease of Doing Digital Business in India
In furtherance of its efforts in promoting a digital economy for consumer welfare, CUTS has undertaken a study titled ‘Ease of doing Digital Business in India.’ CUTS is releasing a discussion paper series, and the first paper in this series is titled ‘Impact of Criminalising
Enhancing Multimodal Connectivity in the BBIN Sub-region: Air Connectivity in Perspective
Multimodal connectivity is an important driver of regional integration. Countries in the BBIN (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal) sub-region are working to tap regional growth and development through multimodal connectivity. This Discussion Paper looks at the role of air connectivity in integrating the region and its contribution
Cross-border Twin Towns in the BBIN Sub-region: Facilitating Intra-regional Trade and Cooperation
In recent years, enhanced cross-border cooperation and regional economic integration have gained global focus. Economic integration results in increased cross-border activities and networks, facilitating local and regional value chains and inter-linkages with national and global markets. An important way to create such a collaborative ambiance for cooperation and
Linking Inland Waterways with Industrial Corridors and Logistic Parks for Economical and Ecological Freight Movement in the BBIN Sub-region
BBIN Motor Vehicles Agreement: Scope for developing integrated logistics and transport infrastructure and other related services
Competition Enforcement for Business Collaborations during COVID-192020
The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated restrictions have necessitated a rise in collaborations among businesses due to various demand and supply shocks in the economy. This has led competition authorities worldwide to reconsider competition law enforcement, thus ensuring the supply and distribution of essential goods and services. This Discussion
Artificial Intelligence:Implications for Consumers
The advance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies has brought with it many benefits for consumers, in the form of new or improved products and services, ëmore intelligentà and faster delivery, reduced search and transaction costs, and increased safety. This Dicussion Paper seeks to analyse the benefits and costs of
Emerging Multimodal Connectivity in the BBIN Sub-region Possibilities for Competitive Linkages
Transforming Logistics Performance in BBIN Countries: Towards creating a lasting legacy
Role of Multi-modal Connectivity in Fostering Value Chains in the BBIN Sub-region
(Not) the way to promote digital payments2018
Promotion of digital payments has been stated objective of the Government of India. In the last one year, the government has broadly used three types of tools to promote digital payments. These are: financial, operational and regulatory. The sections below examine the application and effectiveness of
Future of Coal in India
Coal, being an important source of energy generation, remains preferable to India for fueling its economic growth. Approximately, 70 percent of IndiaÃs electricity generation is dependent on coal. The coal sector has several structural issues and regulatory challenges. The sector is facing numerous issues, such as lukewarm demand,
Status of Implementation of Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016 in Select States of India
Real Estate (Development and Regulation) Act, 2016 (RERA), a pro-consumer legislation aims to protect the interest of consumers by ensuring accountability, transparency and establishing an adjudicating mechanism for speedy redressal of disputes. The paper highlights the progress made by select four States and a Union Territory with respect
Towards Sustainable and Seamless Air Transport Connectivity: Facilitating Single Sky for the Himalayan Region
Discussion Paper – E-Commerce in the Context of Trade, Consumer Protection and Competition in India
Is there a Bright Future Ahead for India’s Pharmaceutical Market?
This paper analyses the underlying discourses in IndiaÃs on-going public policy reforms and debates in the pharmaceutical sector. It identifies the dominant discourse and discusses its impact on consumers in the context of IndiaÃs contemporary epidemiological and demographic transition, political agenda, economic ambitions, market dynamics and legal framework.
Designing Effective Leniency Programme for India: Need of the Hour2015
The OECD Recommendation of the Council Concerning Effective Action against Hard Core Cartels adopted on March 25, 1998 defined ‘hard-core cartel’ as“…an anticompetitive agreement, anticompetitive concerted practice, or anticompetitive arrangement by competitors to fix prices, make rigged bids (collusive tenders), establish output restrictions or quotas,
Beyond a Band-Aid Approach for Electricity Distribution Reforms in India Political Economy Analysis and its Implications
This Discussion Paper analyses issues faced by the distribution sector and evaluates the subsequent reforms vis-a-vis their effectiveness in dealing with the issues. It explains the prereform scenario of the power distribution sector in order to trace the evolution of problems faced by the sector. The paper
Gujarat Inter-city Transport Regulatory Authority2015
The aim of the paper is to, therefore, highlight the possible approaches that the DoT, Government of Gujarat could consider for the development of an inter-city public transport regulator in Gujarat (Gujarat Inter-city Transport Regulatory Authority).
Assisting Transition to Better Bus Transport Regulation in Select Countries2015
This purpose of this paper is to act as a reference for policymakers and implementers to better understand the good practices in urban bus transport reforms. The need for developing this paper was felt in the Diagnostic Phase (Phase I) of the project under which
Cost of Monopoly in Bus Transport Case of Gujarat2015
This paper builds upon the CREW Project’s findings in relation to the intercity bus transport system in Gujarat, India. The existing project analysed the interstate bus transport system in Gujarat with an emphasis on areas where the introduction of competition could potentially increase performance outcomes.
Facilitating Interoperability in Digital Finance Services in India
Interoperability is usually understood as ability of different networks/systems/tools to communicate with each other, exchange and use/process data. The term has gained prominence with advent of digital finance in emerging economies. India has witnessing tectonic shifts with respect to regulation and market practices on interoperability. This Discussion Paper
Privatisation in Ghana
The goal of this Discussion Paper is to empirically analyse the case of privatisation in Ghana to determine what factors led to successes and what policies led to failures. It outlines the establishment of state-owned firms in Ghana, motivation and process of privatisation with a particular emphasis on
Comparative Study of the Origin, Evolution and Current State of Play of Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) of BRICS Countries
This Discussion Paper observed that the original motivation to enter into BITs for all BRICS economies was the need and eagerness to attract foreign investment in view of domestic constraints of availability of capital. However, barring Brazil, in no other BRICS economy, the potential impact of BITs on
Balancing State, Utility and Social Needs in Agricultural Electricity Supply The case for a holistic approach to reform
Judiciary – a crumbling pillar of Indian democracy?- Speeding up delivery of justice in India
The famous quote of George Washington which is over two centuries old is still valid: ëthe administration of justice is the firmest pillar of government.à The current judicial scenario in India does not live up to this adage in a number of its manifestations. This Discussion Paper looks at one of them
Regulatory Framework and Challenges in Indian Pharmaceutical Sector
This Discussion Paper provides a brief status of the pharmaceutical industry in India and its key features. It gives a description of the major regulatory bodies monitoring the Indian pharmaceutical sector and undertakes a review of the prevailing mechanisms for drug regulation and some predominant policy measures and acts. It also provides a
Dimensions of Competition Policy and Law in Emerging Economies2011
The paper identifies inadequate awareness and lack of competition culture as stumbling blocks to the successful adoption of competition policy and law by emerging economies. The paper also clarifies implementation modalities, such as the shaping of the content of competition policy and law and the
Informal Sector and Competition: A Comprehensive Agenda for Research and Action2009
The paper recommends that the decision to formalise the informal sector should be based on a cost-benefit analysis. It goes on to elaborate various methods of formalisation: reduction in the number of procedures/clearances involved or time involved in registration of firms in the formal sector,
Multilateral Competition Framework: In Need of a Fresh Approach2005
The paper identifies the relevant competition problems and suggests a way forward for international cooperation to deal with them. It suggests that a brand new organization, dedicated solely to competition issues under the auspices of the UN, will be most suitable.
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