The Hindu Business Line : Monday, August 08, 2005

Coffee needs a different brew
THAT A SECTION of the plantation sector has been going through a rough patch in recent years is well known. Unsteady output and productivity, rising production costs and falling global prices have blunted the competitive edge of some of the ... More

ECONOMY

Seeking remedies to Mumbai's travails
Abolition of rent control, urban land ceiling and stamp duty would not have stopped Mumbai's inundation. But it would have minimised the worst damage of floods and other natural disasters. To remedy the travail of daily commuting will need pro-active regulation that will make it profitable for employers to house their staff close to the workplace, says P. V. Indiresan, seeking lessons from Mumbai's monsoon travails. More

Seeking local allegiances in global times
THE Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, returned from his recent trip to the US pleased that he had got Washington's commitment to help with the civilian use of nuclear technology, especially in the area of power ... More

PSU

Two-tier board structure — Adding to the PSUs' burden?
It is hoped that the Government's decision on the proposal for a two-tier board for public sector companies is realistic. Not only is it difficult to get qualified and experienced persons to man both levels of the structure, there is also no guarante e that such a system will guarantee better performance. More

POLITICS

Outflanking politicians
A NUMBER of remedies has been suggested from time to time to combat corruption, including: Amendment of the Rules of Business to vest decision-making on important matters in the Secretaries to Government instead of in the Ministers; codification ... More

MONETARY POLICY

Impact of crude price — RBI may prefer status quo monetary policy
The RBI has stated that an upturn in the inflation numbers would be countered with prompt and effective (monetary policy) action. If global oil prices rise further, there will be pressure to hike domestic oil prices. An analysis of the price patterns and trends in the global crude oil markets is, therefore, essential to gain an insight into how the domestic interest rate markets are going to shape up. More

The RBI Governor's dilemma — Living beyond our means
THE first quarter review of monetary policy by the RBI Governor, Dr Y. V. Reddy, released on July 26, had the merit of letting things remain unchanged. The impression, however, is that the RBI's own analysis may ... More