The archetypal Indian in much economic literature down the ages has not been an ideal economic agent. Our initial response to this spiky bug was arguably too tardy, reviving hoary groans of slow Indian responsiveness to data signals. In many ways, 2020 served as a reminder of how easily we defy economic expectations. The notion of an exceptional India, as it were, can be traced back to the observations of Adam Smith in his 1776 classic The Wealth of Nations. Where India could get ahead of the rest, though, is in digital domains.

Source: Mint December 30, 2020 15:56 UTC