Transaction Costs and Constitutions: India's Balancing Act, with Shruti Rajagopalan
Send us a textWhat if transaction costs could shape entire political and economic systems? Join us for an insightful discussion with Shruti Rajagopalan, a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center, as she takes us through her fascinating journey from the University of Delhi to George Mason University. Her research on India's economic liberalization shaped her understanding of economics and public choice theory, and now she is looking at the Indian Constitution as a subject of study. She shares how India's socialist elements and frequent amendments navigate the balance between democracy and central planning.Explore the contrasting worlds of constitutional amendments in the United States and India, where transaction costs play a pivotal role. We unravel the philosophical differences in how these two nations interpret their constitutions, impacting citizens' rights and governance in uniquely distinct ways. Through metaphors like the Ship of Theseus, we evaluate the stability and adaptability of these constitutions, shedding light on how they sustain their respective democratic frameworks amid evolving societal needs.Adding a dose of humor, we recount a satirical tale of international contractors bidding for a White House fence and explore the complexities of voting systems influenced by transaction costs. The episode takes a reflective turn as we discuss Ulysses S. Grant's memoirs, highlighting themes of personal sacrifice and political intricacies. This conversation promises to enrich your understanding of how economics, law, and political systems intricately intertwine, offering both serious insights and light-hearted moments to ponder.Links:Dr. Shruti Rajagopalan's web site at Mercatus and her personal web siteDr. Rajagopalan's podcast, "Ideas of India" and publicationsBook o'da'month: U.S. Grant, Personal Memoirs, Modern Library, 1999. A note on the TWEJ: Some listeners may find the joke racist. But in fact each of the three stereotypes captures a kind of "excellence," though the three kinds of excellence might not all be equally socially admirable. Gordon Tullock, who was discussed in this episode, made some observations about corruption that are worth keeping in mind: Western nations abhor, or pretend to abhor, corruption, though in fact there is plenty of it in the West. Tullock's point was that, in a nation with dysfunctional institutions, corruption can be efficiency enhancing. Institutions matter. The point is not that Germans are inherently organized and methodical, nor that Mexicans are inherently hard-working and efficient, and certainly not that Indians are all corrupt. But the political and economic systems of those nations create a setting where such actions are "rational," and even expected. I wrote a piece for Public Choice on Tullock's insight, and the problem of India, and that's why I enjoyed this joke!If you have questions or comments, or want to suggest a future topic, email the show at
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