The Rationale of Free Markets
To have any meaningful understanding of a socio-economic system, one needs to first gain an insight into two things – one, what purpose it is meant to serve, and two, for whom it is supposed to serve that purpose.
Where is the Casino Industry Headed?
Asia-Pacific is the future of global casino gaming, according to the Global Gaming Outlook report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). This region is poised to surpass the US as the region with the largest casino industry in the world this year.
Foreign Direct Investments in the Indian Economy
In the pre-liberalization era, Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into India were plagued by several restrictions. This included ceilings on foreign equity, restrictions on the use of brand names, restrictions on the expansion of investments into consumer goods and several others. To add to the miseries was the Industrial Licensing System. In 1991, many of these impositions were either abandoned or significantly eased, paving the way for FDIs to boost India’s economic growth.
India to Slide from Position of Second Fastest Growing Economy
The Asian Tiger seems to be getting into the crouching position again. It seems to be moving further and further away from the Dragon. While her neighbour China continues to rule the roost, India has moved down from its prestigious position as the world’s second fastest growing economy. According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), India’s growth in 2012 will be reported at 4.5%. This is disappointing, since we were all out to cheer for the country surpassing its larger neighbour in terms of economic growth.
Rakesh Wadhwa. Ever since, I was a school boy, I knew India was on the wrong path. Socialism was just not what we needed to get ahead. Government controlled our travel; government controlled our ability to buy and sell; and government controlled our freedom to move our money. My life has focused on the inherent rights people have. When I was in college, I never understood, what the governments meant by their "socialistic attitude". If people are free to buy, sell and move their capital themselves without any restrictions by state, then the welfare of people is inevitable & hence the countries they live in will become wealthy. The government has no right whatsoever, to point a finger at me or my business. I am not a revolutionary. I just want to light up my cigarette and not get nagged about it. I believe in non-interfering attitude to attain more. 
The Bastiat Award is a journalism award, given annually by the International Policy Network, London. Bastiat Prize entries are judged on intellectual content, the persuasiveness of the language used and the type of publication in which they appear. Rakesh Wadhwa won the 3rd prize (a cash award of $1,000 and a candlestick), in 2006.
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