Policy Research vs Academic Research
The two worlds of policy research and academic research (in economics) sometimes do intersect, but for the most part, they appear to me to be quite different arenas of inquiry, with different epistemologies and types of truth claims. This blog is about those differences as I see them, having worked in both domains.
Ideas that Shape Policymaking: The Role of Think Tanks in India
In India’s policy environment today, think tanks perform a crucial function. Where the high-intensity and daily pressure of execution and implementation leaves policymakers little time to reflect deeply on policy goals and policy design, think tanks render a valuable service by attempting to fill the gap.
Submission by Dvara Research to the Ministry of Finance as part of Pre-Budget Consultation with the honorable Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Jan 2nd 2025
The Government of India called for pre-budget consultations in early January 2025. Dvara Research was one of the invitees, and we are once again grateful to policy makers for reposing trust in our work. In the past as well, Dvara Research has been a partner and advisor of choice for key policy-making bodies in the country.
Learnings from Action Research
In this paper, we take a look back at 30 months of action research work and reflect on the process, the hurdles overcome, and the lessons learned. Unlike our usual publications, this one is a meta-reflection on the method of action research. We hope it will be useful for other organizations like ours that are doing this kind of work and to funders who fund it.
Why customer protection is central to financial inclusion
India needs a robust and comprehensive financial customer protection regime, which it currently lacks. Imagine the following scenario. Raja and Rani are a low-income householder couple with two children in elementary school. They also take care of Raja’s ailing mother. The household’s monthly income is ₹20,000.
