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We define a state as the entity that has a monopoly on violence. But does political authority lead to political legitimacy? How do we define legitimacy? What happens without it? How should we approach it as citizens.
Welcome to Episode 98 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay draws from political philosophy to expand on the intricacies of the concept of political legitimacy. And at the end, Amit gives an impassioned monologue on why it may not even matter in India!
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A Vacation & an Education03:07 Chapter 1: What is Legitimacy?11:53 Chapter 2: Where Does Legitimacy Come From?19:39 Chapter 3: What Goes Wrong Without Legitimacy?26:41 Chapter 4: What Public Choice Theory Tells Us32:57 Chapter 5: Legitimacy for an Ideologue36:36 Chapter 6: How to Increase Legitimacy44:35 Chapter 7: Amit Gives Context and Nuance55:33 Chapter 8: Recommendations
For full show notes, please click here.
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We often assume that art and genius are the playground of the youth. Well, while giving himself an education in art during a vacation in Spain, Amit realised that all the great Spanish masters did their most powerful work in old age, when thehraav met mastery. The light in winter is different.
Welcome to Episode 97 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit expands on his observation about the artistic possibilities of old age, while introducing the lives and work of Diego Velázquez, Francisco Goya, Pablo Picasso and Joan Miro. Also featured: Salvador Dali, U2, Bob Dylan, Penelope Fitzgerald and Wim Wenders.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A Vacation & an Education04:34 Chapter 0: Museums and Narratives07:26 Chapter 1: Diego Velázquez and Lal Meninas19:32 Chapter 2: Francisco Goya and the Black Paintings31:42 Chapter 3: Pablo Picasso Likes to Play47:56 Chapter 4: Joan Miró Strips It Down54:47 Chapter 5: More Late Mastery1:04:51 Chapter 6: Recommendations
For the full awesome show notes, click here!
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Last week, we went through a 101 of globalisation: the first principles, why it rocks, why tariffs are terrible. We also did a potted history of how it spread and almost unravelled. Now, it’s time to come to these current times.
Is globalisation doomed?
Welcome to Episode 96 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay brings the narrative up to the present times. What GATT and the WTO achieved, why they weren’t enough, where the fault lines lie, the problem of China, and the damage the Trump tariffs can cause.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Need for a 10102:43 Chapter 1: The Aftermath of Smoot-Hawley10:34 Chapter 2: Everything You Always Wanted to Know About GATT (But Were Afraid to Ask)20:28 Chapter 3: Some Wrinkles to Consider55:43 Chapter 4: The Trumpist Arguments1:05:41 Chapter 5: The Trump Tariffs1:14:54 Chapter 6: What Next?1:18:11 Chapter 7: India’s Opportunity1:25:29 Chapter 8: Recommendations
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Globalisation is great. Tariffs are terrible. But why? What is the history of trade? What is the history of the ideas around it?
Today, more than ever, it is important to understand.
Welcome to Episode 95 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay give a 101 masterclass on why globalisation is great — as well as a 101 history of globalisation so far.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Need for a 10105:52 Chapter 1: Why is Globalisation Great?34:30 Chapter 2: The Story of Globalization57:25 Chapter 3: Let’s Bust Some Tariff Myths!
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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For all the toxicity of social media, it is also a source of much Good Gyan, as every day the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. Here’s another conversation about some more wisdom that we have gathered!
Welcome to Episode 94 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Two Good Dogs00:45 Good Gyan 1: Desire04:23 GG 2: Greatness22:40 GG 3: Productivity24:26 GG 4: Normalcy28:09 GG 5: Passion30:13 GG 6: Talent36:10 GG 7: Imperfectionism44:40 GG 8: The Hard Yards46:44 GG 9: Procrastination49:15 GG 10: Making It54:09 GG 11: Our Shrinking Future56:30 GG 12: Spring59:10 Recommendations
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Social media may be addictive, even sometimes toxic, but it is almost magical in one gift it gives us: every day, the best minds in the world think aloud for our benefit. And some of us, gentle readers, are listening & taking notes.
Welcome to Episode 93 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares nuggets from his Good Gyan folder on Twitter. He shares why he considers those tweets to be good gyan — and Ajay responds to them, and adds his own good gyan!
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Good Gyan on Twitter? Really?02:52 Good Gyan 1: Perception09:42 GG 2: Relevance13:32 GG 3: Relevance again16:28 GG 4: Solitary hobbies19:32 GG 5: Relationships22:52 GG 6: Happiness30:39 GG 7: Courage33:11 GG 8: Breadth35:35 GG 9: Whiners40:16 GG 10: Complexity41:48 GG 11: Purpose44:28 GG 12: Knowing Oneself46:06 GG 13: AI & Us47:41 GG 14 & 15: Good Doctors53:02 GG 16: Preparation & Planning54:52 GG 17: Crackheads56:40 GG 18: Wisdom
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Too often, we think a Strong Man will solve all our problems, and that decisive leadership is all a nation needs. This could not be more wrong. We need strong rules, not strong rulers — and we need those strong rules to restrain the state. The secret to prosperity lies in rules, not discretion.
Welcome to Episode 92 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay explains the history of a concept that is one of the most important in political philosophy: Rules, Not Discretion. Also discussed: the contribution of economics to this concept, what poker also teaches us, and why rowing machines are good for you.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A Rebel With Rules01:03 Chapter 1: Beware of the Strong Man09:16 Chapter 2: Ireland’s Story20:33 Chapter 3: Monetary Policy26:01 Chapter 4: A Paper That Made Ajay Drunk With Happiness28:52 Chapter 5: Focus on Rules43:31 Chapter 6: Rules are the Key to Growth48:48 Chapter 7: Amit’s Thoughts1:05:08 Chapter 8: Other Applications of this Framework1:17:25 Chapter 9: Recommendations
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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We think of the state as a monolithic beast -- but it should be anything but monolithic. The state exists to serve us, not rule us, and for that, we must have checks and balances -- and the best kind is the separation of powers.
Welcome to Episode 91 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay explains why for democracy to be meaningful, a separation of powers is essential. We talk history, theory and India's story.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The Planner and the Doer02:59 Chapter 1: Introducing the Subject06:10 Chapter 2: Arriving at The Separation of Powers18:02 Chapter 3: The Indian Story33:08 Chapter 4: What Some Regulators Get Wrong38:32 Chapter 5: Two Big Developments in the US49:55 Chapter 6: Some Additional Thoughts55:26 Chapter 7: Recommendations
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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All of us suffer from constraints in our life. Some are small -- and some can be huge. We should take inspiration from people who have fought huge constraints and broken barriers despite the obstacles in their way -- and sometimes because of them.
Welcome to Episode 90 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit takes us through a few inspiring stories of how a few pioneers used their constraints to break new ground.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: We are Stupid AND Creative02:40 Chapter 1: Joni Mitchell Plays Guitar10:09 Chapter 2: Frida Kahlo Won’t Be Stopped18:23 Chapter 3: Dr Seuss Has 50 Words32:23 Chapter 4: Fosbury was Not a Flop42:40 Chapter 5: Some More Stories
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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There are few things a government can do to harm society more than Industrial policy. It sounds well-intentioned, but is born out of hubris and results in disaster.
Welcome to Episode 89 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay breaks down the thinking behind industrial policy, the practice of it, and why it is always bad for the people.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: The 500 Dollar Bill08:01 Chapter 1: What is Industrial Policy?15:39 Chapter 2: How Industrial Policy Works26:50 Chapter 3: Subsidies42:54 Chapter 4: The Folly of PLI52:56 Chapter 5: Coercive Power57:36 Chapter 6: Ethno-Nationalism1:05:42 Chapter 7: Government Monopolies 1:11:54 Chapter 8: The China Question1:14:55 Chapter 9: What Should the State Do?
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Society needs free speech. Democracy needs free speech. For our lives to have meaning and purpose, WE need free speech.
Welcome to Episode 88 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit lays out the case for free speech absolutism -- and also, the troubled history of free speech in India.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: It's Not All Black and White03:02 Chapter 1: The Ranveer Episode13:45 Chapter 2: The Arguments for Free Speech20:43 Chapter 3: The Troubled History of the Freedom of Expression34:46 Chapter 4: The Hypocrisy of the Elites41:23 Chapter 5: Some Common Objections to Free Speech50:28 Chapter 6: Ajay’s Closing Remarks
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Humanity has progressed more in the last few decades than in all of history before that. Moore's Laws -- yes, we used the plural -- go some way in addressing that, as do a couple of other frameworks shared in this episode.
Welcome to Episode 87 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, you will find mathematical joy, technological wonder and life lessons that are priceless.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Testing Ajay's Math Skills04:57 Chapter 1: What is Moore’s Law?12:56 Chapter 2: The Implications of Moore’s Law23:17 Chapter 3: The Impact on Prices33:04 Chapter 4: Two More Frameworks51:38 Chapter 5: I, CPU1:00:26 Chapter 6: Some Larger Thoughts1:11:44 Chapter 7: Recommendations
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Amit had a minor heart attack recently. As he was put back together, he reflected on how the miraculous technology that was reviving & renewing him was a result of rebels questioning conventional thinking. Indeed, all progress depends upon that.
Welcome to Episode 86 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay discuss some rousing stories of heretics who reshaped the foundational thinking of their fields -- from the pioneers of angiography & angioplasty to underdog Sri Lankan cricketers to an audacious upstart that first disrupted the behemoth of their sector, and then disrupted themselves.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: A Life Update13:43 Chapter 1: Rethink the Fundamentals16:18 Chapter 2: Matters of the Heart29:15 Chapter 3: More Matters of the Heart42:37 Chapter 4: Matters of Sport54:20 Chapter 5: Watching Movies1:03:30 Chapter 6: A Personal Story1:10:15 Chapter 7: Closing Thoughts
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Our longest episode so far might also be the most fun. In episode 85 of Everything is Everything, Amit Varma and Ajay Shah tackle a barrage of words & concepts & names thrown at them with responses of Underrated, Overrated or Complicated -- and then they explain why they feel that way.
Enjoy the lively disagreements! :)
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes,click here.
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War has changed. Sometimes, an act of war doesn't seem like war at all. Often it can't be detected, or attributed, or responded to. It's a messy world.
Welcome to Episode 84 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay lays out the many kinds of Hybrid Warfare in this modern world -- and the incentives that drive them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: 'Not in an amorous way'02:10 Chapter 1: The Middle Zone of Hybrid War06:51 Chapter 2: The Different Elements of Hybrid Warfare33:06 Chapter 3: The Incentives59:15 Chapter 4: Complicating Factors1:09:41 Chapter 5: The India Story1:16:06 Chapter 6: How Do We Better?
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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What is atheism? Is it a belief system? Is it political? Don't we need religion in our lives?
Welcome to Episode 83 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit describes the thought processes that led to him becoming a non-believer -- and busts common myths around atheism.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Why Atheism?02:34 Chapter 1: Atheism is Not a Belief But an Absence of Belief06:24 Chapter 2: Atheist & Agnostic12:09 Chapter 3: Why Religion Exists26:51 Chapter 4: New Atheism and the Four Horsemen38:20 Chapter 5: Closing Thoughts
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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A policy that works in one country often cannot simply be transplanted onto another. The invisible infrastructure that is needed to make it work may not exist.
But what is this invisible infrastructure? Why is it invisible? Why do specialists often get it wrong? Why is everything everything?
Welcome to Episode 82 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay elaborates on his frequent exhortation that before we talk about policy, we must consider the invisible infrastructure that will determine its success or failure.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Finding Life Lessons01:22 Chapter 1: What is Invisible Infrastructure?07:21 Chapter 2: A Concrete Example11:56 Chapter 3: ‘Think of It as an API Call’18:53 Chapter 4: One Example – Privacy in India26:06 Chapter 5: The New York Taxi Driver29:57 Chapter 6: What is to be Done?32:37 Chapter 7: Be Wary of Specialisation41:18 Chapter 8: Everything is Everything42:23 Chapter 9: Think About Incentives45:05 Chapter 10: Think Locally47:29 Chapter 11: Sometimes, We Should Do Nothing52:39 Chapter 12: Focus on the Foundations58:05 Chapter 13: An Idea For a Future Episode
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Chess is a beautiful game -- and holds many lessons for life.
A lot happened in chess in 2024: Gukesh Dommaraju won the World Chess Championships, Arjun Erigaisi reached 2809, India won Olympiad golds, Magnus Carlsen threw his weight around -- and there are Life Lessons in it for all of us.
Welcome to Episode 81 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit shares the nuances in the events in chess in 2024 -- and draws timeless learnings from them.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: Finding Life Lessons01:35 Chapter 1: The Last Blunder13:45 Chapter 2: The Game Outside the Game25:50 Chapter 3: The Different Journeys of Gukesh and Arjun42:13 Chapter 4: The Decline of Classical Chess52:24 Chapter 5: Magnus’s Misbehaviour1:10:44 Chapter 6: Computers and Coverage1:14:14 Chapter 7: Sagar and Amruta
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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Firms are awesome. So is creative destruction. In a well-functioning market, firms die, new firms are born, there is rebirth and renewal.
For this to play out smoothly, there has to be a good bankruptcy process, so that resources & people are not tied up in unproductive zombie firms.
Welcome to Episode 80 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma & Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Ajay lays out a masterclass on a) how to think about bankruptcy; & b) how bankruptcy happens in practice in India.
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: We Love Firms!00:32 Chapter 1: Creative Destruction06:27 Chapter 2: What is a Firm?10:48 Chapter 3: Don’t Be Sentimental17:59 Chapter 4: Intangible and Tangible Capital23:47 Chapter 5: The Committee of Creditors27:18 Chapter 6: What is the Endgame?31:50 Chapter 7: What is an Ideal Bankruptcy Code?34:24 Chapter 8: The History of Bankruptcy Law39:34 Chapter 9: Our Bankruptcy Code in the Real World46:09 Chapter 10: What Happens to the Promoter?50:04 Chapter 11: The Role of the Courts51:12 Chapter 12: A New Regulator53:57 Chapter 13: The Indian Non-Rule of Law55:36 Chapter 14: A Useful Framework1:08:10 Chapter 15: Recommendations
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
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There is a man who steals the electricity bills of everyone in his apartment block. Why? Can he find love and redemption? Two young Sikhs take a stand defending a bridge. Why? What do they really want? Two great chess players take each other on. Are they playing the game on the board, or some other game? There is a child in the mail. What? A child in the MAIL?
Welcome to Episode 79 of Everything is Everything, a weekly podcast hosted by Amit Varma and Ajay Shah.
In this episode, Amit and Ajay lay out four more stories that should be films. Great fun -- and much to think about!
TABLE OF CONTENTS: 00:00 Packaging00:13 Intro: More Stories!00:54 Story 1: Collector of Bills23:04 Story 2: The Khalsa Bridge38:13 Story 3: Two Chess Stories48:02 Story 4: Postal Boy
For magnificent, detailed, juicy show notes, click here.
- Visa fler
