Annual Event 2021 | Rethinking Economics

Dialogues on Economic Realities

24 September - 3 October 2021

Anchor 1

Started amidst the pandemic, the Rethinking Economics India Network has sought to create a space wherein multiple stakeholders like individuals, universities, the private and public sectors, and the society can participate in a scalable and collaborative effort to learn, teach, and discuss pathways for building a better economy for the society. Through our international network and local chapters, we find ourselves in a unique sphere of influence that can mould the understanding of pluralist movements and connect the local with the global to truly manifest the changes in economic thinking for creating a better present and future.

This event marks the culmination of delivering numerous focused deliberations and projects within the domain of heterodox and pluralist economics in India. Our discussions over the course of the event will be centred around the themes of diversity, decolonisation, pluralism, climate and environment, and growth and capacity building, bringing together a consortium of voices from local and international think-tanks, youth-led organisations, academicians, and activists to ponder on and brainstorm on ideas and solutions for reshaping our understanding and implementation of economic policies and theories.

Themes of the Annual Event

This theme aims to look at the continuing discussion of acknowledging the lack of and ensuring diversity and promoting representation in economics academia, policymaking, and society at large. The theme aims to engage with academic and policy representatives from countries of the Global South to understand their economic and political structures, the legacies left behind from colonialism, and the need for decolonising these structures.

Diversity and Decolonising

Global Governance

This theme problematizes the questions of global governance, decision making, and cooperation from a Global South perspective. The system of global governance is characterised by the existence of multiple custodians including nation-states, UN agencies, multilateral institutions like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, multinational companies, civil society, and non-governmental organisations working across the globe under implicit and explicit power differentials. The sessions converge together in the form of a conference session on public health vulnerabilities in the global south, beginning and culminating with plenary panels on internationalist approach to global governance and global fair tax, respectively.

Climate Change

This theme aims to discuss and deliberate over economic alternatives for building climate resilience, valuing Earth’s resources, and creating an inclusive circular economy. A primary focus of this theme is to contextualise economic thinking to the Indian and Global South landscape. At the end of the sessions, we are hoping for the audience to leave with a better understanding of the nature of capital allocation with respect to climate change, the various nuances of valuing natural assets and biodiversity, and the effect of climate change on the most vulnerable.

Curriculum Reform

This theme aims to understand how the economics curriculum has evolved in India and the change in its discourse by outlining the different linkages involved in the education of economics and the pedagogical challenges that require intervention while addressing the structural constraints and the need to reform the economics curriculum in India and Global South from the decolonial perspective.