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Path for Inclusive India Lies in Decentralisation
Green growth cannot be an afterthought. We need to promote climate-resilient agriculture, regulate construction, and community-led action for lifestyle changes.Riding the Tracks of Time: Indian Railways – An Unfinished Revolution
In this paper, Jaimini Bhagwati and Shalini Chauhan trace the legacy of India's railway system, its expansive growth, and ongoing challenges.The State of Urbanisation: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Rakesh Mohan's valedictory lecture at IHD recommends devising policies to encourage research to study the phenomenon of industrialisation and urbanisation in India, for manufacturing to be located in towns and cities and calls for a unified system of governance.Lessons from the Legacy of a Scientific Stalwart
India's renowned technologist, VS Arunachalam leaves behind a legacy of scientific accomplishments and institution-building efforts, writes Rahul Tongia.Institutions, Organisations, and Governance to Promote Road Safety
This Policy Brief by Rakesh Mohan discusses the need for a system view to address a host of road safety issues through research and development.NRF: What Research Should be Funded?
An effective National Research Foundation would prioritise excellence over relevance, support a wide range of projects, and stress funding millions of individual researchers.New Custodians of Corporate Governance
Private firms should fill the vacancies of independent directors with those who are younger, technically savvy, with domain knowledge to tackle future uncertainties, writes Vikram Singh Mehta.The Supreme Court’s Supremacy
Jaimini Bhagwati writes about how the Supreme Court should not be challenged, yet judges should not select judges.Set the G20 Pace on Plugging Public Finance Data Gaps
Anoop Singh discusses how “data for development" will be an integral part of India's G20 presidency.Meritocracy & Reservations
Has merit become a bad word in India? For India's exceptional human resources to remain in the country, it needs to phase out all caste, community, and income-based reservations, writes Jaimini Bhagwati.What Drives Media Reporting? | The Media Rumble 2022
What makes an event newsworthy? Shishir Gupta and Nandini Agnihotri shed light on what drives media reporting in this virtual session.SVAMITVA May Reinforce Inequalities in Rural India
The most serious drawback of SVAMITVA is its refusal to integrate gender into the scheme, writes Kaveri Thara.Back in Time, Ep 2: Montek Singh Ahluwalia on India’s liberalisation
Podcast | Montek Singh Ahluwalia discuss independent India’s sociopolitical, cultural and economic history with Kunal Kamra.Review: Recalibrate by NK Singh, With Select Insights from PK Mishra
A new book provides valuable snapshots of the evolution of Indian policymaking while also pointing out where policy shifts are needed.Uber Files Gives us a Glimpse of Big Tech’s Playbook for Market...
Bhaskar Chakravorti writes: It is time we reformed the education of future entrepreneurs and disruptors and the many stakeholders who enable them, to put the human cost of disruptive innovation front and center.Political Forum and Development Goals
Ramu Damodaran explores how High Level Political Forum (HLPF) is a remarkable innovation that led to its in inception as part of the sustainable development agenda.Analysing Judicial Efficiency of Indian Courts
Aashita Dawer's study aims at analysing Judicial efficiency for Supreme Court, high courts and subordinate courts of India. The study uses various regression techniques while highlighting the importance of effective justice delivery.Property Laws and Property Practices in India
While the first amendments to the Indian Constitution were made to enable the State to redistribute land more equitably, this was followed by land acquisition for developmental projects that displaced Adivasis, Dalits and other vulnerable groups. Read the paper by Kaveri Thara and Ajey Sangai for deeper insights into land and property ...Corporate Misgovernance in India
NSE has blotted its record even with separate chairman and managing director roles, says Jaimini Bhagwati.Explosive Dying Declaration?
Government and judiciary must collaborate and investigate into Kalikho Pul's accusations, says Jaimini Bhagwati.What Drives the Media’s Coverage of Social Issues?
What influences media reporting? Shishir Gupta and Nandini Agnihotri's study explores reader interest as a factor that drives news coverage.SVAMITVA: A socio-legal analysis
The paper highlights the gaps in the Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas (SVAMITVA) scheme and suggests ways to address them along with proposing an evaluation system to be set in place.What Drives Media Reporting?
Not only is the frequency of media reporting on urban conflicts greater, but each urban conflict is also covered much more extensively than those in rural areas; this is despite the fact that a much larger number of people are potentially impacted in the latter.Why Most Indians Don’t Trust News? A Study of Land Conflicts Answers
A study of 714 land conflicts in India find that beyond being ‘influenced’ or ‘sensationalised’, there are objective reasons that decide media coverage.For India to be Financially Inclusive and Economically Better, Financial...
For a financially aware and empowered India, considerable effort and calculated steps need to be taken.What Drives Media Reporting?
Is media reporting linked to readers' interest? We revisit a paper by Shishir Gupta, Nandini Agnihotri and Sikim Chakraborty on what drives media reporting in India.Union Budget 2022-23: Key Takeaways by CSEP Scholars
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman presented the Union Budget 2022-23 on February 1. CSEP scholars Rakesh Mohan, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Vikram Singh Mehta, and Jaimini Bhagwati analyse the Budget and reflect on some of the key takeaways.Between Binaries: The Coming Together of For-Profit and Not-for-Profit...
From being a malleable concept, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has come to be strictly defined by legislation. Somewhat corresponding to this, the conversations around impact and governance in the social sector have started changing.Three Tech Industry Trends to Watch in 2022
Fringe players take on Big Tech, governments start regulating, and AI could finally prove its worth, writes Bhaskar Chakravorti.India’s Hopes and Dynasties
The country needs greater social harmony to accelerate economic development, says Jaimini Bhagwati.50 Global Hubs for Top AI Talent
As AI expands into more and more facets of our lives, there is also more scrutiny on who is developing it. Building ethical AI that works for everyone will require a diverse workforce that brings a broad range of perspectives.Interview | Did UPA Fall Back on Loosening Government’s Grip on...
In the Q&A with Business Standard, Montek Singh Ahluwalia dwells on the areas where he feels UPA did not meet up to the challenges and the progress made by the BJP on certain fronts.The Saviour Complex of Facebook’s Critics
Whistleblowers and the Western media have exposed how the social media platform allows dangerous social media manipulation in developing countries. But why have they locked those very countries out of this conversation?Is Monetising Public Assets a Good Idea?
In this podcast, Montek Singh Ahluwalia discusses the asset monetisation policy of the government.Pegasus expose and need for trans-national treaties to stall surveillance
Nurtured by repressive governments, the global surveillance industry is booming, writes Bhaskar ChakravortiWhy Article 282 needs a rethink as Centre and states battle for money
The use of Article 282 to implement centrally sponsored schemes remains a source of tension.The response of Reserve Bank of India to Covid-19: Do whatever it takes
RBI has succeeded in achieving its broad objective of keeping financial system functioning smoothly.From 1991, the lessons for the India of 2021
As India grapples with a post-pandemic economic crisis, there are lessons from thirty years ago on what to reform and how.The Response of the Reserve Bank of India to Covid-19: Do Whatever it...
Rakesh Mohan discusses the role of Reserve Bank of India in fighting the economic impact of Covid-19 and the ensuing lockdown.In the next big disruption post Covid, the world must act together
No single entity, whether government, corporate or civic society, has the tools to manage the fallout of a systemic disruptionRamping up vaccinations should be accorded top priority by India
The command-and-control structure has let us down and we must soon let markets and the private sector play a larger role.Interview | Expect K-shaped, not V-shaped, recovery: Part 1
In a 3-part interview, Rakesh Mohan analyses the Indian economy, banking reforms, the RBI's role, etc.Who gets to decide what is legitimate free speech — Big government or...
We now live in a new era of global diplomacy. It isn’t just states butting heads with other states; there are gigantic tech companies that have thrown their hats into the geopolitical ring.Meenakshi Ahamed’s book shows why Indo-US ties have progressed despite...
The pace of the further development of relations will depend crucially on the quality, knowledge and influence of the people that President Biden appoints to his India desk.There is a need for high taxes uniformly across all tobacco products
Higher taxes will work in tandem with greater controls, and will help GoI pay for all the direct and indirect costs it incurs due to tobacco consumption.Beyond binaries: The coming together of Indian non-profit and for-profit...
The study looks at the evolving dynamics of the civil society/non-profit sector and examines variations in governance, changes in funding etc. which influence positive outcomes, while also looking at what constitutes positive outcomes.Ownership and governance of private sector banks – Part III
Going beyond its recommendations on ownership of private sector banks, there are some other internal working group (IWG) recommendations that bear scrutiny.Ownership and governance of private sector banks: Part II
Among the key problems that arise from the ownership of banks by nonfinancial companies are those of conflict of interest.Why private banks, their ownership structures need to be strictly...
Basic principles and international practice suggest that opening the door to the ownership of banks in India by large corporate/industrial houses should be done, if at all, with utmost caution.Interview | Should corporates be allowed to own banks?
Rakesh Mohan talks about the proposal to allow corporates to own banks and the state of the economy.Wage Trickle Down vs. Rent Trickle Down: How does an increase in college...
The study confirms that high‐skilled workers gain greater benefits from living in cities with a rising college share, as the increase in their wage premiums outweighs their rent growth.Joe Biden will need healing superpowers to get through his first hundred...
Joe Biden inherits a divided nation, government, party. Economy, foreign relations also need immediate healing.IMF Quota reforms and global economic governance: What does the future...
The world is on the cusp of an epochal change in global economic power, not seen since the start of the Industrial Revolution.The war over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy may overtake all other...
Battle over Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s legacy, her Supreme Court seat, may overtake all other issues — pandemic, economic collapse, fires and floods — in US presidential polls.Antitrust isn’t the solution to America’s biggest tech problem
The pandemic has revealed the most fundamental of our digital vulnerabilities.Make surveillance capitalists pay their dues
The world is now facing many technology crises: limited choices of search engines, social media platforms, and e-commerce sites; digital misinformation, concern about which is heightened this year.India 2024: Policy priorities for the new government
A changing global order, energy transitions and climate change and rapid technological advancement – India’s next government has the difficult task of steering the country through an interesting and crucial time. India 2024: Policy Priorities for the New Government, edited by Dhruva Jaishankar and Zehra Kazmi, is a compendium of policy briefs ...India 2024: An informed India
For years, governments, policymakers, and philanthropists have contributed funds for the delivery of social programs to achieve specific goals and development outcomes. These funds have been used to tackle poverty, hunger, malnutrition, and other critical policy issues. But while necessary, they have met varying degrees of success. Each year the government spends ...India 2024: An urban India
It is now widely recognised that India’s future will be urban. According to estimates by the United Nations’ World Urbanisation Prospects, India will see the highest increase in urban population in absolute numbers of any country. By 2050, it will add more people to its cities than are currently residing in them. ...India 2024: A highly educated India
India has seen a rapid expansion in the higher education sector since 2001. There has been a dramatic rise in the number of higher education institutions (HEI) and enrolment has increased four-fold. The Indian higher education system is now one of the largest in the world with 49,964 institutions. Despite the increased ...India 2024: A healthy India
India’s economy has grown at an impressive pace over the last few years, but overall, it still witnesses poor health outcomes. The wealth of a nation is its human capital and with poor health outcomes, India’s human capital will suffer. This has a direct consequence on the economic well-being of the nation. ...Preserving the independence of the RBI
If proposals to set up an appellate body to review RBI’s regulatory and supervisory decisions were to be implemented, the whole supervisory process would get mired in constant litigation. The last decade has witnessed an almost constant attack on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), emanating sometimes from within the government, sometimes ...Important lessons for the Smart Cities Mission
With the 26th UN-Habitat governing council conference (GC26) held last month, the new urban agenda (NUA) has once again come to the fore. As the world moves towards a globalized policy discourse, one wonders if the NUA is an improvement on the existing unratifiable global documents. India’s minister for urban development, Venkaiah ...Over The Barrel: A note to the class of 2017
I was in the US last week for Commencement Week when students receive their degrees. The tradition is to surround this occasion with speeches by luminaries, faculty and staff, and to have much revelry. As I have two daughters studying in the Boston region and one of them was graduating, I had ...Over The Barrel: Democrat’s dilemma
Thomas Jefferson wrote, “a government big enough to give you everything you want is also strong enough to take away everything you have “. Seen through a contemporary India-centric lens , this statement could read, “people want a strong government for development and stability but not so strong as to compromise their ...Why EVMs are win-win
Free and fair elections to choose political representatives are a cornerstone of a democracy, and a fundamental human right of people. Voting procedures play a significant role in the conduct of free and fair elections in a democracy: These convert voters’ preferences into a political mandate, which forms the basis for policy ...The impact of Electronic Voting Machines on electoral frauds, democracy,...
Free and fair elections are cornerstones of democracy. In India, electronic voting machines (EVMs) were introduced with the objective of reducing electoral fraud. We exploit the phased roll-out of the EVMs in state assembly elections to study its impact on electoral fraud, democracy, and development. Our main findings are: Introductions of EVMs ...A sentinel’s censure
The latest collection of P. Chidambaram’s articles is an indictment of India’s evolution as a liberal democracy I was a panelist at a function in Mumbai recently to discuss P. Chidambaram’s latest book Fearless in Opposition: Power and Accountability. The book is a compilation of his weekly articles written in 2016 ...Women and representative governance in India
Brookings India Senior Fellow Shamika Ravi recently presented glimpses of her work on women and representative governance in India to a group of students from New York University. Dr. Ravi presented her research through three main perspectives namely, governance, representation and potential solutions. Her research has been inspired by the ‘missing women’ ...Finding the sync: connecting the fragmented liberal and democratic...
Last year raised questions over relevance of liberal democratic processes, called for a review. 2016 has been a dramatic year. I am not sure about the others but the developments over the past year have made me reflect on four issues. The relevance of the current system and process of democratic politics ...To keep good company
There are many other questions, but the larger point is that the time may have come for a broad-based introspective review. Reams have been written on l’affaire Tata. I cannot add much more of substance. And I certainly do not wish to add grist to the mill of speculators. The reason I ...Progress must be made to corporatise railways: Rakesh Mohan
Rakesh Mohan, distinguished fellow, Brookings India, has said that while scrapping the separate Railway Budget is a positive move, the government has not yet clarified what it plans to do to make the railways more efficient. In an e-mail interview to Business Standard newspaper, Dr Mohan said little improvement has taken place ...Building Smart Cities in India: Allahabad, Ajmer, and Visakhapatnam
As India continues to experience rapid urban expansion, public and private leaders at a national, state, and local level are looking into ways to better manage larger populations and unlock greater economic potential. Launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015, the “Smart Cities Mission” is an ambitious multiyear effort to boost ...For smart cities to succeed, strengthening local governance is a must
The lack of effective devolution of power to local governments is a major bottleneck in the essential transformation of urban India. India is in the midst of an ‘urban revolution,’ but the current state of municipal services across the country is found wanting. According to Census 2011, 31.16 per cent of the Indian population (377 ...Indian economy set to soar irrespective of PM Narendra Modi’s...
The caveats are many. But there are compelling reasons to believe that the economy will slowly but surely pick up momentum writes Vikram Mehta There have been a spate of meetings to discuss two years of the Modi government and I have attended several of them. One question that has been asked ...Emerging Powers and Global Governance: Whither the IMF?
Although the role of the emerging economic powers is increasing, their soft power is not rising at the same pace, explores Brookings India Distinguished Fellow Dr Rakesh Mohan in this policy brief. KEY POLICY HIGHLIGHTS: The centre of gravity of the global economy is shifting back towards Asia from the North Atlantic. This ...Next step in PM Jan Dhan Yojana is to help people start using their new...
A recent article in Global Government Forum quotes a Brookings India research paper on financial inclusion which calls for a model of financial inclusion which specifically caters to the need of the poor. (Global Government Forum is a publishing, events and research business that helps civil servants around the world to meet global challenges by building their expertise, ...Union Budget: FM has chosen stability over growth
In the face of a sluggish global economy and volatile global markets Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had to convey a message of continued macro stability while also striving to accelerate growth. Budget 2016-17 is a complex and comprehensive document touching on many different areas which finance minister (FM) Arun Jaitley has categorised into ...Over-Ruled: Why Maximum Governance Must Start With Minimizing Certain...
Some time ago, I missed my grandfather’s funeral because an airline’s manager hid behind rules. No, I wasn’t asking him to break any rules, but he didn’t let me fly despite there being empty seats, my pleading to please charge me any price he wanted, and my being at the airport almost ...India Inc worried about rise of religious, social intolerance
Is India liberal, tolerant and democratic, or is it conservative, atavistic and authoritarian? Investors want to know Key highlights: It takes a long time to build a brand, but just one dissonant message to kill its appeal. The conversation today in academic circles, corporate boards and urban drawing rooms is not about ...How to make government missions more successful
The recent behaviour of tur dal prices suggests that the National Mission on Protein Supplements set up in 2011-12 has remained largely unsuccessful. Subir Gokarn suggests three components of a budgetary approach that can help increase the prospects of such missions succeeding. Key Highlights: A large mission requires contributions from multiple agencies at all ...Simplifying bureaucracy should be PM’s new mantra
The needle of change must be shifted more sharply, democracy is not an acceptable cover for non-performance. There is a telling vignette in Arun Maira’s interesting new book, An Upstart in Government. Maira was a member of the Planning Commission in the rank of minister of state between 2009 and 2014. A ...Subir Gokarn on RBI Monetary Policy review
Brookings India Director of Research and former Deputy Governor of the RBI, Subir Gokarn, answers questions on the RBI Monetary Policy review in Business Standard. Read the full transcript of the webchat here. Is the Reserve Bank of India immune to political and India Inc’s pressure for rate cuts as Governor Raghuram Rajan is suggesting? ...Narendra Modi’s class act on Teachers’ Day
But the challenge in education lies in enabling teachers to innovate and individualise pedagogy. Key takeaways from the Brookings India publication, Accelerating Access to Education If you would like to request a copy of the book please email us on info@brookingsindia.org In his second address to students around the country, Prime Minister Narendra ...VIDEO: To avoid market freeze, central banks have to act
More disruptions in financial and other markets unless central banks take necessary actions to ensure markets do not freeze Watch the full interview on CNBC here What is your own assessment of how this core problem of slow growth can be resolved because you can inject liquidity how much ever you want but ...Spectrum policy in India
The mobile sector continues to see dramatic growth around the world. Usage of cellphones, smartphones, and tablets is increasing at a rapid pace. With the growing popularity and ease of use of mobile devices such as iPhone, Android phones, tablets, and other portable devices, new mobile applications are coming online that increase access and capability, ...The art of distraction
I recently returned to Delhi after several days at my home in Binsar. Binsar is a remote forest and wildlife sanctuary in the Kumaon hills. It is almost totally cut off. There is no electricity, and although some of us who can afford the upfront capital costs of solar have brought lighting ...Key Policy Insights
Quality Focus on Learning Outcomes: There is an unequivocal need for the education system to shift its focus from access and infrastructure to improving learning outcomes for all students in the country. While some basic standards for infrastructure are needed, greater priority should be given to learning outcomes in the school ...The one-year scorecard
As the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government approaches its first anniversary, the assessments have ranged from congratulatory to critical, depending on the observer and the criterion. Here is my contribution to the kitty. A year ago, I had written a column entitled “Three national missions”, in which I had argued that the ...Big problem, small solution
Achhe din sparked hope. The black market bill, whilst laudable in intent, has, however, raised fears of reinvigorated “inspector raj”. The labyrinthine maze of bureaucratic approvals, the tax charge on Cairn petroleum, the abrogation of the winning bid by Jindals for two coal blocks on the charge of cartelisation, and the reluctance to allow the market freer rein have ...Trysts with e-governance
This column first appeared in Business Standard, on February 8, 2015. Like other products of the Brookings Institution India Center, this is intended to contribute to discussion and stimulate debate on important issues. The views are those of the author. Soon after we moved to Mumbai a few years ago, we were informed that our ...Turning Water Challenges into Opportunities
Water is vital in South Asia, where most countries are still largely agrarian. As such, water is inherently political – its socio-ecological flows are implicated in competition by economies, individuals and nations, while its distributional regimes have the capacity to alter lives and livelihoods. Competing water-use for agriculture, industry, and domestic purposes ...You can’t kill two birds …
This column first appeared in Business Standard, on November 2, 2014. Like other products of the Brookings Institution India Center, this is intended to contribute to discussion and stimulate debate on important issues. The views are those of the author. The economic parallel of the popular aphorism about the limitations of using one stone is ...Good governance 101
The prime minister has hoisted his administration’s flag on the masthead of good governance. This is a welcome and timely objective. The question is, what does the prime minister mean by “good”? He campaigned on the slogan of “minimum government, maximum governance”. This would suggest that he equates “good” with “small”. There ...Strategy and structure
This column first appeared in Business Standard, on August 24, 2014. Like all products of the Brookings Institution India Center, this is intended to contribute to discussion and stimulate debate on important issues. The views are solely those of the author. The title of this column is borrowed from a classic work in business history, ...Why plumbing in India starts leaking in a few months while it lasts...
This column first appeared in Quartz, on August 10, 2014. Like all products of the Brookings Institution India Center, this is intended to contribute to discussion and stimulate debate on important issues. The views are solely those of the author. Indians are proud of their frugality. Saving money is normally a virtue, but in some ...Modi’s twin challenge- Oil and water
They say that oil and water don’t mix. Literally true, perhaps, but, speaking metaphorically, they can be an explosive combination. The mix between the two poses the most significant risk to the Indian economy over the next few months. It threatens to reignite the drivers of inflation, the fiscal deficit and the current account deficit. At this ...Economic & Foreign Policy Priorities for Modi’s Government
Brookings India Fellow Dr. Shamika Ravi, and Mr. R.N. Ravi, former Special Director, Intelligence Bureau of India, address questions on the economic and foreign policy priorities for the new government: How will Narendra Modi govern? Is he the right person to lead India during this challenging time in its history? Narendra Modi ...Looking beyond Modi win: Experts analyze NDA’s uphill task
CNBC-TV18’s Shereen Bhan and Latha Venkatesh caught up with some of the most influential voices in the country to get a sense of what is likely to happen as far as the economy is concerned, as far as the mood in the market is concerned and with key crucial reforms. Below is ...Three national missions on priority for the Modi government
**This column first appeared in the Business Standard, on May 19, 2014. All views are personal. Brookings India does not hold an institutional view on any subject. The mandate received by the new government gives it an opportunity to set a long-term agenda without political threats. This is exactly what any government ...Believing in India again
It is a matter of confidence, credibility and trust. Whatever be the political hue of the next government and whoever its leader, the challenge will be to reinvigorate investor confidence in the political stewardship of the economy, restore the credibility of the executive and rebuild trust in the sanctity of policy and ...The NIF Option
Over the past few months, I have written several columns about the chronic and intensifying problems in infrastructure. To my mind, two issues are of particular concern. First, there is a severe imbalance between investments across sectors, which lowers the productivity of each investment. Infrastructure is essentially a network phenomenon, a chain, ...No monkey business
Why ‘right to entrepreneurship’, promised by Congress manifesto, is a bad idea. Little else is requisite to carry a state to the highest degree of opulence from the lowest barbarism, but peace, easy taxes, and a tolerable administration of justice; all the rest being brought about by the natural course of things. ...Realigning governance
In its essence, governance is about alignment. Multiple groups, each with its own menu of interests, some coherently articulated and others not, demand recognition and satisfaction from the government. Areas of commonality need to be found and reinforced, while differences need to be reconciled, not by the domination of one group over ...BHAG inclusion BHAG
The goals for financial inclusion need to be matched by the means being used In their book Built to Last: Successful Habits of Visionary Companies (1994), James Collins and Jerry Porras postulated that an important characteristic of such companies was their articulation of their Big Hairy Audacious Goal, or BHAG. In contrast ...The state of the state
Whether the state, as an institution, is doing the right things and has the capacity to do them are fundamental questions in a liberal democracy. As India approaches the next general election, these are particularly significant questions. However, the articulation is as yet fuzzy and needs to get sharper if it is to translate into ...Public sector – Act V?
Act I: Idealism Beginning with the second Five-Year Plan in 1956, public enterprise was given a central role in the industrial development strategy for the economy. At that point, the perception that very large upstream investments, which would lay the foundations for comprehensive industrialisation, were best done by the state was quite ...Taper tribulations
When the United States Federal Reserve began what turned out to be a series of quantitative easing (QE) measures in October 2008, most observers would have seen it as a temporary crisis response measure, to be withdrawn as soon as it had done its job of calming markets and thawing out a ...