Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
At least three million people died in the Bengal famine in British India during WW2. There is no memorial or even a plaque to them anywhere in the world. #ThreeMillion tells their story through extraordinary eyewitness accounts. Listen NOW @bbcsounds
bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001w…
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Replying to @UNDPSriLanka @UNDP @UNDPasiapac @EU_in_Sri_Lanka @EU_Partnerships @UNDPEU @EU_FPI @UNDPDigital @PublicDigitalHQ @AzusaKubota @MalinHerwig @LaurenKahn1 @UNSriLanka @ajith_de_alwis @NationalInnova2
.@LaurenKahn1, Dir - Strategy & Research, @PublicDigitalHQ; Gayani Premathilake, Chief Legal Officer, Min of Public Admin, Home Affairs, Provincial Council & Local Govt & Dr. Gopa Kumar K Thampi, Sr Governance Advisor, @Asia_Foundation #lka then had an engaging panel discussion.
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Recent studies by the World Inequality Lab have shed light on the growing income disparity in India. The data reveals that the top 1% of India's population now holds 23% of the national income, a significant increase from 7-8% levels in the 1970s and 15% in the 2000s. Meanwhile, the bottom 50% has seen their share decline from 20-22% in the 1970s to around 13-14% today.
This rise in income inequality can be largely attributed to globalization. As jobs from advanced economies shifted to countries like India, a new segment of wealthy individuals emerged. However, this growth has not been evenly distributed, with the benefits primarily accruing to those with higher education and skills, as well as to those living in select urban centers and states.
Similar patterns can be observed in other emerging economies like China and Brazil. In China, the top 1% earn approximately 13-15% of the national income, while in Brazil, they capture a staggering 28-30%. These numbers highlight the urgent need for inclusive growth policies.
To ensure equitable growth in India, investment in the education sector is crucial. By transforming our education system to prepare the next generation for the era of Generative AI*, which has the potential to substantially increase the scale of automation across industries, and by upskilling the current workforce to complement and collaborate with AI, we can mitigate the risk of further income disparity. Moreover, strengthening social safety nets, promoting job-intensive growth in sectors like manufacturing and services, and fostering balanced regional development can help absorb more workers into the formal economy and bridge the spatial inequalities.
India stands at a critical juncture, and the decisions we make today will shape our society for generations to come. It is up to us to build an India where prosperity is shared by all, not just a privileged few. By investing in our human capital, promoting inclusive growth, and harnessing technology for the greater good, we can create a brighter, more equitable future for every Indian.
#InclusiveGrowth #BridgingTheGap #FutureOfWork #EducationReform #ViksitBharat
*Also see nitter.cf/swaminathankp/st…
I would like to share my recent article, The Crossroads of AI Integration, which explores a crucial moment in our technological evolution. “The dawn of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is unfolding across the globe, and we find ourselves at a defining crossroads in the journey of technological integration. This pivotal moment presents us with a choice: to navigate the AI revolution in a manner that either elevates our collective potential, or leads us into a quagmire characterized by job losses and economic contraction.”
AI harbors the transformative power to redefine industries, revolutionize productivity, and reshape the way we work and live. Yet, it presents us with a dual pathway: one leading to unparalleled growth and innovation, and the other towards displacement of human labor due to (AI) automation, and consequent economic contraction. A recent Goldman Sachs report suggests that ~25% of work done in the major countries of the world can be automated using LLMs, affecting as many as ~300M jobs. “The essence of our challenge lies not in resisting change but in harnessing it to foster an era of growth, innovation, and inclusivity.”
Our exploration delves into the essence of AI's potential—not as a monolithic entity but as a diverse ecosystem of technologies, each with its unique strengths and limitations. "This inherent characteristic suggests that no single AI model can claim universal applicability across all tasks, thereby underscoring the necessity of leveraging multiple models to achieve a more balanced, comprehensive approach to problem-solving."
Our vibrant nation, teeming with young, dynamic talent, stands to gain immensely from an AI-driven transformation. By emphasizing upskilling and fostering a symbiotic relationship between human intelligence and artificial capabilities, we can unlock new dimensions of productivity and creativity. For India, this underscores the urgent need to reform and reimagine our education sector, preparing our youth for a future where they can thrive alongside AI, ensuring they are prepared for the demands and opportunities of tomorrow's workforce.
Read the full article here: linkedin.com/pulse/crossroad…
#ArtificialIntelligence #FutureOfWork #GenerativeAI #AIIntegration #EducationReform
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
There are 3 billion people living within the footprint of a #mobile broadband network but not using #MobileInternet 📱 At 38%, this #UsageGap is almost 8⃣ times the size of the #CoverageGap.
Learn more in #SOMIC 2023 ▶️ gsma.com/somic
#Sida #UKAid
When efficiency comes with upward wealth redistribution, our recommendations frequently become little more than a lic… imf.org/en/Publications/fand…
24 global development organizations to watch in 2024 devex.com/news/24-global-dev… #Devex via @Devex
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
The politicians who are supposed to be looking out for our planet, our economy, and our communities, are the very same super-rich driving the climate crisis.
Read our full #ClimateEquality report here: makerichpolluterspay.org/cli…
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Book Review at BRAVE NEW EUROPE
Subimperial power: Australia in the international arena' by Clinton Fernandes
Reviewed by Branko Milanović @BrankoMilan
braveneweurope.com/subimperi…
#geopolitics #Australia #AUKUS #imperialism #USA #politics #internationalaffairs
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Why is food so expensive in #lka ?
The answer is more complicated that politicians would have you believe (it's not bad weather) Read our article for more!
Why are food prices rising like never before? And what might be done to reduce their impacts on the people? @AruthaResearch explores these issues and more in its newest article "Bad weather, bad luck, bad policies."
Full article: themorning.lk/articles/b0gYk…
Sri Lanka’s recent domestic-debt restructuring illustrates how the mounting sovereign-debt crisis in developing countries could push even more older women into poverty. @ProSyn prosyn.org/1VIbTmd
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Redoubled applause for this article on the same subject in @TheHinduComment :
An absolutely superb piece by @cprajendran on the diminishing space for academic freedom in India — and what we could do about it: thewire.in/rights/academic-f…
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Corporate power is driving up inequality. This is how to make corporates work for the common good instead – this year’s @Oxfam Davos report is another great demonstration of the power of the killer fact(s). Today's @fp2p frompoverty.oxfam.org.uk/cor…
Is the IMF fit for purpose? theguardian.com/business/202…
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Are you an economist, policymaker, practitioner, donor, private sector or someone interested in development economics?
Check out VoxDev - a platform for development enthusiasts to discuss key policy issues.
Follow ➡️ @vox_dev
Website➡️ voxdev.org/about
All of the #VoxDevLits are great of course and you should check them all out, but its particularly great how the updated versions highlight the new findings in green text, to make it easy to spot the latest evidence
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
The @IJURR Foundation is inviting applications for writing-up grants for PhD students from low or middle-income countries who are close to finishing - but not quite there!
If you're working on a PhD in the field of Urban & Regional Studies, and fit this category - apply!
👇
Apply now for the IJURR Foundation 2024 Writing up grants! For PhD students from low or middle income countries who are writing up their final thesis. Applications close 31st January 2024. More details on our website: tinyurl.com/dwz79uxn
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
Understanding the cognitive and emotional qualities of individual economic actors, and how these actors interact with one another, is essential to understand markets, argues @byantarahaldar of @cambridgelaw. bit.ly/47GGYVU
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
🎉 Huge congratulations to all CSOs & #TaxJustice advocates! 🌍 The adoption of the UN tax resolution marks a major collective win. Our united voice is stronger than ever! Let's keep collaborating for systemic transformations for financial justice ! #UNTaxConvention
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
28 years ago today, my father Ken Saro-Wiwa and eight of his colleagues were murdered for protesting against oil spills in the Niger Delta. We will never forget. ❤️ #ogoni9 #kensarowiwa #Nigeria
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
"Tech Cartografies: the map of internet territories" is now available online as an Interactive (and very fun) version: cartografiasdainternet.org #IGF2023 (Its a pre-launch, more to come, let me know what do you think.)
[Pre-launch] Hey #IGF2023, if you are in Kyoto, you can see live our Tech Cartographies Map. But for those who aren't, an INTERACTIVE version just became available online now! The map materializes the cloud. Your cloud is in territories and there are power relations shaping it!
Gopakumar Thampi retweeted
At least 60 Indians, many young, have killed themselves after being blackmailed & shamed by predatory loan apps, some operated by Chinese. #BBCEye goes undercover, reveals the underbelly of #fintech. Will authorities act on all this evidence? @BBCIndia
youtube.com/watch?v=JilJhn_t…






























