Monday, January 20, 2014

Height of global inequality: rich-poor gap widening

Height of Global Inequality!

A very shocking report is published by Oxfam which reports that: a tiny group of 85 richest people own as much as 3.5 billion poor! wtf.


Some points of the study can be used in essays, answers regarding global inequality, poverty or to point out failure of democracy, taxation policies.

Important Points for essays


a) Wealthy groups have co-opted political power, thus undermining democracy in a country including India. This group then create rules which is in favor of those having high income.


b) Since the late 1970s tax rates for rich have fallen. In last 25 yrs wealth have concentrated even more in the hands of few families. Around 1% of rich families own around 50% of wealth.

c) In India since last decade no. of billionaires have increased tenfold thanks to 'highly regressive tax structure' & 'political connections'.

All this bends the rules of economic game in favor of fittest group. In the end rich are getting richer & poor are becoming even more poor. Govt spending on poor is low.


Some of the policies in favor of rich are: Tax havens & secrecy, financial deregulation, anti-competitive business practices & cuts in public spending.




RBI Inflation linked bonds: important points to remember

 Inflation Indexed National Saving Securities- some important FAQs from exam point of view:

a) Inflation rate for these bonds will be:  Final combined CPI (consumer price index) base: 2010, with lag of 3 months.


b) Eligibility: only retail investor. Individuals, HUFs, charitable institutions, Universities. Maturity period is 10yrs.


c) Interest Rate: 2 parts: i) fixed part: @ 1.5% p.a. (ii) variable: inflation rate.

This fixed rate of interest also acts as floor rate, in case there is deflation in economy.


d) Interest gets accrued & compounded on half yearly basis.


e) Minimum limit: Rs 5000/-, Max- 5lacs per annum per applicant.