Policy Beyond Politics

Centre for Public Policy Research
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Discussions and interviews with guests who are eminent policy researchers and practitioners on contemporary public policy issues (widely debated or conveniently missed), curated by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). CPPR, based in Kochi (Kerala, India), is an independent, public policy think-tank dedicated to in-depth research and scientific analysis with the objective of delivering actionable ideas to transform society.

  1. 12/30/2025

    EP 70 | The Rules of the Game: Constitutions and Public Accountability

    The fifth episode of the five-part podcast series on the book, Public Choice – A Primer by Dr Eamonn Butler, explores how constitutions function as the foundational rules that shape governance and public accountability. It examines why societies need constitutions beyond symbolism, and how constitutional frameworks influence political decision-making and limit government excesses. Drawing from the chapters The Role of Constitutions and Achievements and Issues, the episode unpacks the economic logic of constitutional rules, the idea of a fiscal constitution, the role of federalism, and the challenges of ensuring accountability within democratic systems. This podcast series aims to make the ideas of public choice theory more accessible to a wider audience. Speaker: Assistant Professor and Head, Department of Economics, St. Albert's College ( Autonomous), Ernakulam Moderator: Sreelakshmi Harilal, Associate – Research & Projects, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation on the economic and political rationale behind governments, the inherent costs and trade-offs in collective decision-making, and how voter behaviour and political incentives shape policy outcomes.

    11 min

  2. 12/29/2025

    EP 69 | Rethinking Public Choice: Lessons and Future Horizons

    The fourth episode of the five-part podcast series on the book, "Public Choice – A Primer" by Dr Eamonn Butler, explores brings together key insights from Public Choice: A Primer and reflects on how the theory continues to evolve in response to new governance challenges. Based primarily on Chapter 12 (Current and Future Horizons), the discussion revisits earlier themes, the logic of collective decision-making, voter behaviour, political incentives, and constitutional design to understand how Public Choice theory has expanded from its foundational principles to more complex, interdisciplinary frontiers. This podcast series aims to make the ideas of public choice theory more accessible to a wider audience. Speaker: Emmanuel Thomas, Assistant Professor, Dept of Economics, St. Thomas’ College, Thrissur Moderator: Jofi J Francis, Senior Associate (Project Administration), Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation on the economic and political rationale behind governments, the inherent costs and trade-offs in collective decision-making, and how voter behaviour and political incentives shape policy outcomes!

    31 min

  3. 12/18/2025

    EP 68 | Power, Interest, and Incentives in Politics

    The third episode of the five-part podcast series on the book, "Public Choice – A Primer" by Dr Eamonn Butler, explores how incentives drive political and bureaucratic behaviour, why collective decisions are vulnerable to special interest influence, and how institutional design, as explained by Public Choice Theory, can either mitigate or amplify these distortions. Drawing from Chapters 5 to 9 of the book, this episode explores how collective decision-making processes are frequently shaped by interest groups, political bargaining, and bureaucratic incentives. It highlights the subtle yet influential ways in which concentrated interests and institutional mechanisms shape policy outcomes—often at the expense of broader public welfare.This podcast series aims to make the ideas of public choice theory more accessible to a wider audience. Speaker: Kumar Anand, Economist & Public Policy Professional; Senior Fellow, Academy, Centre for Civil Society (CCS), New Delhi  Moderator: Sreelakshmi Harilal, Associate, Research & Projects, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi, Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation on Public Choice Theory and its application in understanding power, interest groups, incentives, as well as institutional, political, and public policy decision-making in democratic systems.

    51 min

  4. 12/07/2025

    EP 67 | Decoding India’s Fiscal Landscape: The 15th Finance Commission Years

    As India stands on the brink of the XVI Finance Commission’s recommendations, the debate on fiscal federalism has re-emerged at the centre of public policy discourse. A recent report titled “State Finances in Transition: An Analysis of Revenue Receipts and Fiscal Dynamics in India during the XV Finance Commission Period,” published by the Foundation for Responsive Governance and authored by Sharad Pandey and Avani Kapur from the Foundation for Responsive Governance (ResGov), provides an in-depth examination of the receipts side: the sources, structure, and trends in own revenues, tax devolution, grants-in-aid, and borrowings. India’s fiscal federalism is now at a crossroads—caught between the ideals of fiscal decentralization and the practical realities of centralization.This episode of the podcast discusses the research report by ResGov, aiming to explore whether the constitutional vision of fiscal balance can be reimagined in today’s context. KEY DISCUSSION POINTS India's performance during the XV Finance Commission period, and major trends that emerged across key fiscal indicatorsRealistic ONTR avenues states can explore without undermining the equity or affordability of public servicesKey drivers of actual tax devolution during the XV Finance Commission period, which exceeded the amounts originally recommendedMeasures to be prioritised to strengthen the states’ receipt side of the balance sheet under the 16th Finance Commission, since borrowings continue to constitute a significant share of total state receipts SPEAKERS: Avani Kapur, Founder and Director, Foundation for Responsive Governance (ResGov) Sharad Pandey, Senior Research Consultant, Foundation for Responsive Governance (ResGov) HOST Banisha Begum Shaikh, Senior Associate - Research & Projects, CPPR Tune in for an insightful discussion on revenue receipts and fiscal dynamics in India during the XV Finance Commission period.

    37 min

  5. 11/27/2025

    EP 66 | Government, Elections and the Voter’s Paradox

    The second episode of the five-part podcast series on the book, "Public Choice – A Primer" by Dr Eamonn Butler, explores how and why governments exist, how collective decisions are made, and how electoral behaviour shapes policy outcomes. Drawing from the chapters “Who Needs Government?” and “How to Win Elections,” the episode attempts to unpack the mechanisms of governance, the trade-offs inherent in collective decision-making, and the paradoxes of democratic participation. This podcast series aims to make the ideas of public choice theory more accessible to a wider audience. Speaker: Dr Pradeep Kumar B, Professor of Economics, Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, Kerala Moderator: Jofi J Francis, Senior Associate (Project Administration), Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation on the economic and political rationale behind governments, the inherent costs and trade-offs in collective decision-making, and how voter behaviour and political incentives shape policy outcomes.

    43 min

  6. 10/01/2025

    EP 65 | Public Choice Theory - An Introduction

    Public policy shapes our lives, but how these decisions are made is often misunderstood. This CPPR podcast—the first of our five-part series on the book, "Public Choice – A Primer" by Dr Eamonn Butler—introduces our audience to Public Choice Theory. Public Choice applies economics to politics, showing how voters, politicians, and bureaucrats act in self-interest—just like in markets. In this five-part series, we explore democracy, voting, bureaucracy, and governance through this lens. Episode 1 unpacks the origins and relevance of Public Choice for citizens, students, and policymakers in India and beyond. Speaker: Rahul V Kumar, Research Fellow (Market Economics), Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kochi Moderator: Jofi J Francis, Senior Associate (Project Administration), Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation that unpacks the hidden mechanics of power, incentives, and decision-making that quietly shape our everyday lives.

    26 min

  7. 09/22/2025

    EP 64 | Prospects and Pressures of Low-Fee Private Schools in India

    Private schools educate nearly one-third of India’s students, with Low-Fee Private Schools (LFPS) serving the majority from low and middle-income families. Despite their vital role, LFPS struggle under rigid regulations—land and infrastructure mandates, fee caps, and burdensome recognition processes—that prioritize compliance over learning. This podcast explores why parents choose LFPS, how state regulations shape their sustainability, and the systemic barriers holding back learning outcomes. It also examines reforms needed to make recognition and governance more transparent, efficient, and learning-focused. Speakers: S R Thomas Antony, Senior Manager – Education Policy Reforms, Centre for Civil Society (CCS), New Delhi Dr J S Paranjyothi, National Vice President, National Independent Schools Alliance (NISA); Founder & Chairman, Oasis Moderator: Nissy Solomon, Hon. Trustee & Project Lead, Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation that unpacks the everyday realities of LFPS—parental choices, regulatory roadblocks, and the bold reforms needed to put learning, not paperwork, at the heart of education.

    50 min

  8. 08/28/2025

    EP 63 | The Hidden Side of Manufacturing: Inside India’s Strategy of Multi-Plants

    India’s manufacturing sector, despite liberalization and decades of economic reforms, continues to underperform relative to its potential. A recent study, “Multiplying Multi-Plants: A New and Consequential Phenomenon” by Arvind Subramanian, Abhishek Anand, and Dr Naveen Joseph Thomas, sheds light on a critical yet overlooked factor influencing this stagnation—the rise of multi-plants. These are multiple small production facilities established by firms within a state, rather than expanding existing plants. Contrary to previous assumptions, large plants in India have not scaled up; instead, they remain fragmented and small by international standards. This has profound implications for productivity, competitiveness, and policy. KEY DISCUSSION POINTS What exactly are “multi-plants,” and why have they become so prevalent in India’s manufacturing sector?How has the aggregation of multi-plant data led to the misinterpretation of plant size distribution in India, and what are its implications for policy and economic research?Why are multi-plant firms less productive compared to single-plant firms of similar size, and to what extent has this affected India’s global manufacturing competitiveness, especially compared to countries like Bangladesh?How do labour regulations and political risks influence the proliferation of multi-plants? Is the use of multi-plants a substitute for contract labour, or do they complement each other in different contexts?What policy reforms could encourage firms to scale up plants rather than proliferate smaller ones?How can India create an industrial environment that balances labour protections with growth incentives? SPEAKERS: Dr Naveen Joseph Thomas, Vice Dean, Jindal School of Government and Public Policy (JSGP), O. P. Jindal Global University, Haryana Abhishek Anand, Managing Director, Insignia Policy Research, Kerala Moderator: Banisha Begum Shaikh, Senior Associate (Research & Projects), Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), Kerala Tune in for an insightful conversation about why firms prefer the multi-plant approach, how it affects jobs and exports, and what changes in policy might help India build stronger and larger manufacturing units in the future.

    28 min
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About

Discussions and interviews with guests who are eminent policy researchers and practitioners on contemporary public policy issues (widely debated or conveniently missed), curated by the Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR). CPPR, based in Kochi (Kerala, India), is an independent, public policy think-tank dedicated to in-depth research and scientific analysis with the objective of delivering actionable ideas to transform society.

Information

  • Creator
    Centre for Public Policy Research
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    70
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Centre for Public Policy Research
  • Show Website
    Policy Beyond Politics