Business + Economy – Articles, Analysis, Comment – The Conversation

The people who live on the Niyamgiri mountain have tried to say no to mining. But the government is not listening. Reinhard Krause/Reuters

In India, local people bear the cost of high-profit mining ventures

Jeemol Unni, Institute of Rural Management Anand

Local people in India are supposed to be protected by progressive laws. But the reality is a far cry from that.

Students turn out for the ‘One Billion Rising’ movement, to end violence against women worldwide. Ajay Verma/Reuters

Achieving gender equality in India: what works, and what doesn’t

Smriti Sharma, United Nations University

India’s economy keeps growing, but women’s rights are going backwards: why?

Can India’s mega-conglomerate Tata Sons survive its leadership crisis?

Ranjit Goswami, RK University

Inside the coup at the top of India’s biggest company.

Cubans were jubilant when president Barack Obama visited the island in March, but economic reforms have not progressed in line with the people’s hopes of change. Ueslei Marcelino/Reuters

Is Cuba’s reform going in reverse?

Bert Hoffmann, German Institute of Global and Area Studies

In spite of rapprochement with the US, Cuban president Raúl Castro has put his reform agenda on hold. Why the delay?

Under military rule, social order is attained at the expense of economic growth while elected governments usually lead to political turmoil. Edgar Su/Reuters

Thailand 10.0: why the nation’s political and military elite need a reset to succeed

Veerayooth Kanchoochat, GRIPS

To end Thailand’s cycle of military and failed civilian governments, its politicians have to go beyond their structurally determined paths and challenge the status quo.

Brazil’s President Michel Temer, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Jacob Zuma. Danish Siddiqui/Reuters

Why the BRICS coalition still matters

Oliver Stuenkel, Fundação Getulio Vargas

Despite financial crises and political differences among these five emerging economies, the BRICS coalition is here to stay. And it may just change the world.

Jeffrey Sachs: ‘we need to press governments to follow through on what they’ve promised’. Max Rossi/Reuters

Jeffrey Sachs on meeting the Sustainable Development Goals – ‘we need a victory of ideas’

M Niaz Asadullah, University of Malaya; Harini Amarasuriya, Open University of Sri Lanka; Maty Konte, United Nations University; Mizan R Khan, North South University, and Rut Diamint, Torcuato di Tella University

Jeffrey Sachs wants to press governments to follow through on their promises.

Local diet is often influenced by other countries. Feisal Omar/Reuters

How technology can help nations navigate the difficult path to food sovereignty

Bamidele Adekunle, University of Guelph

Is food sovereignty possible in the global world we live in today? Yes, if governments can develop appropriate policies.

A man stands by seedlings at the Sierra Leone plantation of Lichtenstein-based firm, Socfin. Reuters

Africa remains a target as Global South ‘land rush’ moves to production

Kerstin Nolte, German Institute of Global and Area Studies and Wytske Chamberlain, University of Pretoria

It’s been ten years since “land grabbing” hit the headlines. What has changed?